STAFF at an Indian restaurant were scared for their lives when Lee Wiseman burst into the premises and assaulted them. Wiseman announced: I am going to stab you, and burn the place down with a bomb, before grabbing the manager around the throat. Wiseman

STAFF at an Indian restaurant were scared for their lives when Lee Wiseman burst into the premises and assaulted them.

Wiseman announced: "I am going to stab you, and burn the place down with a bomb," before grabbing the manager around the throat.

Wiseman also head butted a waiter and told staff at the Crown Indian Restaurant in Main Street: "I have got boys with a gun."

The incident happened at a time Wiseman committed a catalogue of offences, when his mental health had deteriorated due to his drug use, Ely magistrates heard on Thursday.

Wiseman, 25, of Friars Place, Littleport, changed his plea, and admitted assaulting Mohammed Ullah and Jamal Alam on September 25.

Waiter Mr Alam was on the phone when Wiseman kicked open the restaurant door and head-butted him on the left cheek, said prosecutor Sally Rose. He threatened to burn down the property, and left.

Two minutes later he was back, he demanded a double vodka, and left when refused service.

Wiseman returned to the restaurant a third time, he grabbed the manager Mr Ullah, before leaving. Again he kicked the door as he returned, grabbed the manager around the throat, and left.

"The manager was scared for his life, the whole incident lasted 15 to 20 minutes," added Mrs Rose.

At earlier court hearings, Wiseman had also admitted assaulting his former partner Michelle Rowell on Valentine's Day, February 14; he admitted using threatening words or behaviour towards David McDermott in Littleport on September 7; and admitted assaulting two teenage boys in the town on September 26.

Mitigating, Christina Metcalfe said Wiseman had been ill at the time of the offences last year, his mental health had deteriorated due to drug use, and in October he was admitted to Fulbourn Hospital.

The court gave Wiseman a 24-month supervision order, and ordered him to take part in a substance abuse programme.