A MAN who made threats in a Littleport fruit and vegetable shop was bitten by a Great Dane dog during the rumpus, magistrates were told. David McDermott went into the Main Street premises planning to confront Mandy Wright, and ask her to pay compensation

A MAN who made threats in a Littleport fruit and vegetable shop was bitten by a Great Dane dog during the rumpus, magistrates were told.

David McDermott went into the Main Street premises planning to confront Mandy Wright, and ask her to pay compensation for damage caused to his partner's car.

He shouted and swore, and Mrs Wright's dog bit him on the arm, leaving him need of stitches.

A till and a set of scales were pushed over during the incident, and McDermott left the shop, declaring: "I will be back with my dog and a baseball bat."

Appearing at Ely courthouse on Thursday, 42-year-old McDermott, of Longfield Road, Littleport, admitted threatening behaviour towards Mandy Wright on January 12.

Prosecuting, Angela Sassoli, said there was a history of animosity between McDermott and Mrs Wright's sons.

When McDermott went to the shop, he asked if anyone knew Charlie Adams, and started to shout and swear.

As he shouted, McDermott spat in Mrs Wright's face, and she thought he was about to head-butt her.

After being bitten by the dog, McDermott pushed over a till and a set of scales, causing £200-worth of damage.

When arrested, McDermott claimed he had been the victim of abuse, and the dog had been set on him.

Mitigating, Jacqui Baldwin said McDermott had believed that Mrs Wright's sons were responsible for £500-worth of damage to his partner's car. He felt the police had taken no action, so went to ask Mrs Wright for compensation.

"It obviously degenerated into something worse than that," she said "When the dog bit him he was knocked back, and fell on to the till and the scales."

McDermott was given an 18-month community order with 12 months supervision. He was ordered to pay £200 compensation and £50 costs.