A MAN who launched an attack on takeaway staff ended up with a head wound caused by a three foot long kebab skewer and needed 100 stitches, a court heard.
Workers at the Big Taste takeaway in Little Lever, were forced to defend themselves when Graham Lee started attacking them.
Yesterday at Bolton Crown Court Lee, aged 34, of School Street, Little Lever, pleaded guilty to affray and criminal damage.
The court heard how an altercation broke out between Lee and takeaway staff after they ordered two children out of the shop for misbehaving.
Lee, apparently drunk, argued with staff before trying to jump over the counter and kicking a fridge, cracking the glass.
He was joined by two other men, Eric and Reece Yates. While Reece Yates interfered with the shop’s CCTV camera Eric Yates and Lee climbed over the counter.
Takeaway owner Yasar Akkaya armed himself with a kebab skewer as the men threw kitchen items at him.
Police were called and when they arrived the Yates’ had left but Lee was still at the scene, bleeding from a head wound which had been caused by the skewer and needed 100 stitches in hospital.
The shop was closed for a week after the incident, on July 1 last year, which resulted in £640 damage and up to £5,000 in lost trade.
At an earlier hearing Eric Yates was sentenced to a two year community order for affray and Reece Yates was given a 12 month community order with 100 hours unpaid work.
Rosalind Emsley-Smith, defending, said Lee had been suffering from mental health problems and at the time of the incident had not been taking his medication and had been drinking.
“This was drunken and aggressive behaviour towards people who are running a takeaway and deserve to be protected from such behaviour,” said Judge Timothy Clayson.
He sentenced Lee to a two year community order and ordered that he take part in the Thinking Skills programme, a probation led course which teaches people how to make decisions without getting involved in crime. He also ruled that he should pay Mr Akkaya £300 compensation.
“You should be aware that you have been dealt with leniently on this occasion,” Judge Clayson told Lee.
jrowe@theboltonnews.co.uk
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