DRUNKEN Jonathan Palmer made throat-cutting threats to members of supermarket staff after they refused to sell him alcohol. Palmer – who had turned up at the Tesco store in Ely with drunken John Higgins - then head-butted a 17-year-old shop worker, leavin

DRUNKEN Jonathan Palmer made throat-cutting threats to members of supermarket staff after they refused to sell him alcohol.

Palmer - who had turned up at the Tesco store in Ely with drunken John Higgins - then head-butted a 17-year-old shop worker, leaving the teenager with a sore shoulder.

An off-duty policeman had first spotted the intoxicated pair wandering into the road nearby, prosecutor Laura Mardell told Ely magistrates.

"Higgins became agitated and shouted abuse at a driver," she said. "He was shouting in an aggressive manner."

At Tesco, Palmer picked up some beer, but was refused service, because Higgins was drunk, and the two men left.

When the pair returned, Palmer had an implement in his hand; he held it up to his neck and made throat cutting actions towards two members of staff. He then head-butted the teenager.

Police called to the scene were involved in a chase with Palmer. After his arrest, Higgins damaged a switch in his police cell.

Palmer, 31, of Gadwall Way, Soham, admitted assault and threatening behaviour, and Higgins, 35, admitted criminal damage and threatening behaviour.

Representing Palmer, James Dignan said: "He is extremely embarrassed and ashamed of the way he behaved, it was utterly out of character. He had been doing repair work on Higgins' boat, and drinking to excess."

On behalf of Higgins, Jacqui Baldwin to the court: "He feels terribly embarrassed."

Palmer was ordered to do 60 hours of unpaid work, and pay �50 compensation to his teenage victim and �60 costs; Higgins was given a six month conditional discharge, for swearing at the car driver, was fined �100 for damaging the cell, and must pay �50 compensation, �60 costs and a �15 surcharge.