A man has admitted assaulting a staff member at the Co-op and carrying a kitchen knife.

Ralph John Walker, of Grosvenor Road, admitted offences of common assault and possessing a prohibited article in a public place.

Walker had previously pleaded not guilty to the charges but on Tuesday when he appeared before High Bailiff Jayne Hughes he changed his plea to guilty.

Prosecutor Hazel Carroon told the court that 49-year-old Walker was at the Co-op in Duke Street, Douglas, on January 10 at 7.30pm.

Lager

He tried to buy some cans of lager but a staff member, who described Walker as being quite drunk, called for the shop manager.

The manager recognised Walker and said that he had previously been banned from the store for aggressive behaviour.

Walker was asked to leave the shop but refused.

Hewas said to have grabbed the manager’s arm and pushed him.

Walker then challenged the manager saying: ’Why don’t you and me take this outside?’ and raised his middle finger to staff.

Police arrived at the scene and Walker was said to be still hanging around in front of the shop before leaving.

However, police were called back to the Co-op at 9.40pm that evening after staff reported that Walker was back at the shop and was stood in the doorway swearing at them.

Knife

He was subsequently arrested and when searched, officers discovered a nine-inch-long kitchen knife in his bag.

When interviewed at police headquarters he denied the offences and said that he wasn’t drunk and that he did not recall any assault.

He claimed that he had the knife in his bag because he was going to work on a fishing boat.

Defence advocate Paul Glover entered a basis of plea on behalf of his client in which Walker said that he had not been serious about offering the manager outside for a fight.

And he said that his client had not raised his voice nor shouted.

Mr Glover said the incident had been a reaction to his client not being served and it was accepted that Walker had barged the shop manager.

Mr Glover asked for a probation report to be prepared for his client before sentencing.

Meanwhile, a third charge of being drunk and disorderly was withdrawn by the prosecution in light of the guilty pleas.

The case was adjourned for a month until Tuesday, March 17 when sentencing is due to take place.