AN Ellesmere Port man spat at a supermarket security guard after being challenged when he dropped pasta on the floor.

Ryan Parrott, 24, of Richmond Court, pleaded guilty to assault and using threatening behaviour against Younes Benbouia when he appeared at Chester Magistrates Court on Monday, October 29.

He was fined by magistrates and must pay compensation to the security guard.

Prosecuting, Rob Youds told the court it was the early hours of October 13 when Mr Benbouia was at work at Asda in Ellesmere Port when he saw two people eating pasta and throwing it on the floor.

When he approached the pair, they were scanning items and he challenged them.

Parrott became abusive and, when warned he could be banned from the store, replied: "You can't f****** bar me, call the manager."

Mr Benbouia tried to usher Parrott from the store but Parrott threatened to shoot the security guard. He added he would get his friend to wait at 6am at the store entrance to attack Mr Benbouia.

During the incident, Parrott spat on the floor in the direction of Mr Benbouia.

Parrott was put on the floor and then said: "Don't call the police, don't call the police."

Police were called and when interviewed, Parrott admitted making threats, adding he spat on the floor but had no intention of it hitting Mr Benbouia.

Parrott had five convictions for five offences, the last one in 2012 when he was a youth and he received a 12-month conditional discharge.

Parrott, who defended himself, denied throwing the pasta on the floor, saying he was eating some and dropped a bit.

He added: "I said I was a paying customer and he was coming over swearing."

Parrott, who added he had been drinking at the time of the offence, told the court he then said things in the heat of the moment he regretted. He knew the security guard and said he was "a nice guy".

Magistrates fined Parrott £60 and ordered him to pay £50 compensation to the security guard. In addition, he must pay £85 court costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

Parrott, as he was being sentenced, added: "I am genuinely sorry for what I did, it was dirty."