A Tesco security guard was left with egg dripping down her face after a row over a bag of crisps.
Police were called to the Tesco Express store after Andrew Manning, who had earlier been ejected from the premises after staff refused to exchange the snack for another flavour, returned armed with a carton of eggs which he began hurling at the worker. The angry customer then went on to attack his neighbour with a door handle and a bike pump, an assault so brutal it has left him considering moving away from his home of two decades.
Liverpool Crown Court heard this afternoon, Wednesday, that employee Alison Bates arrived for work at the branch on Myrtle Street in the city centre at 7am March 19 this year. Manning, whom she knew to be nicknamed "Manno", had previously caused issues by begging outside the store and being "aggressive" towards shoppers.
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Christopher Hopkins, prosecuting, described how he entered shortly before 9am wanting to change a bag of crisps he had been given for a different one but was told he would not be able to as he had not bought the item. The 43-year-old - of Bedford Street South - responded by throwing the snack to the floor, popping the bagging and shouting: "I always change them in here."
Manning motioned to headbutt Ms Bates then spat at her before leaving. He then returned around 10 minutes later, spat on her cheek and took out a carton of eggs he was carrying.
The defendant launched one egg at her, hitting her on the shoulder and causing it to "splatter into her face". Afterwards, Manning grabbed his bike and cycled away.
A statement read to the court on Ms Bates' behalf described how the altercation has had a "huge effect" on her. She has since moved to work in a different area as she "didn't feel safe".
Then, on September 14, Manning assaulted a fellow resident in the block of flats he resided in. Victim Kevin Fagan has lived in his apartment for around 20 years and has "always been happy and felt safe" there, but for past two years had had "difficulties" with his assailant.
On the day in question, the support worker was about to leave for a shift but found Manning's bicycle blocking his path as he was taking his own bike down a communal flight of stairs. Mr Fagan moved it out of the way to get past, but as he was putting it back into place his neighbour came out of his property saying "you're stealing my bike".
Manning "became threatening", began waving a bike pump around and started "screaming in in his face". He then headbutted him, with both men ending up on the floor.
The thug began hitting the 65-year-old with a metal door handle and punching him in the head, leaving him with "blood dripping from his head". Manning told him "I'll f***ing terrorise you and your girlfriend" before leaving, then returned once more and hit him with the pump.
Mr Fagan said in a statement to the court that his home had previously been "lovely and peaceful". But he is now "scared for the future" and may have to move away.
Manning has 34 previous convictions for 84 offences, including being jailed for four years for drug supply offences in 2003 and being locked up for wounding in 2007. He was handed a six-month imprisonment suspended for two years in December 2021 for possession of a bladed article in a public place, having been caught with a table knife with a stanley knife blade taped to the end while begging.
Paul Becker, defending, told the court: "The defendant is ashamed of himself. He had a lifestyle at the time which was unattractive, desperate and lacking in respect for others.
"The defendant has a history of substance misuse, both in terms of alcohol and drugs, and sadly has mental health problems. He wants to try, when he is released, to mend his ways and lead a law-abiding life in the future."
Manning - who appeared via video link to HMP Altcourse - admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two counts of assault and breaching a suspended sentence order. He was jailed for 26 months.
Sentencing, Judge Dennis Watson KC said of the attack on Mr Fagan: "It was a brutal attack which had significant consequences. He has had to contemplate leaving the place he has called home for the past 20 years."
Manning was also handed a restraining order preventing him from contacting Mr Fagan for seven years, and must pay a victim surcharge. Of the Tesco incident, the judge added: "You were extremely aggressive and confrontational."
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