A MAN who “terrorised” Malmesbury has narrowly avoided being sent to jail after he admitted urinating on a man’s car and knocking another man to the floor in a dispute over parking.

Frederick Puddick of Tetbury Road came before District Judge Simon Cooper sitting in Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday to be sentenced for two charges of threatening behaviour, assault, theft and obstructing a police officer.

The court heard from Vyvyan Thatcher on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service that 21-year-old Puddick had been banned from entering the Co-operative on Malmesbury High Street after he stole a can of Stella on December 19 of last year.

But on January 30 he was found urinating on a car belonging to a Co-operative employee which was parked in the store’s rear yard.

He left the scene but when he realised the police had been called he returned and became abusive towards two of the staff members, who took refuge back inside the store.

Mr Thatcher explained he was further charged with two offences on that same day. “He went to park his vehicle in the bowls club private car park,” he said.

“He was told that he was not allowed to do that. He got out of his car and grabbed the man and pushed him to the chest which caused him to fall down. Then he kicked him once to the body when he was on the ground.”

When officers tried to arrest him back on the High Street he demonstrated aggressive behaviour towards them and spouted a line of abusive language towards them.

His defence, Moses Tawo, told the court that his client had left school with no qualifications and until recently had not had a job. But he had now managed to secure work with the council’s recycling team.

Sentencing him, District Judge Cooper told him he was giving him credit for pleading guilty to the five offences, as on the face of the charges he should be jailed. “You have never been to prison,” he said.

“You are 21-years-old, you have been out of control. You can change. You have terrorised Malmesbury, you have behaved in an appalling way.

“I am particularly horrified at the amount of beer you were drinking each evening to put you in this state. You have seen the light.”

He added he had to tread a difficult line between acknowledging that Puddick could get his life in order, and the safety of the general public.

He sentenced him to 16 weeks in prison, which he suspended for a period of 18 months. He must also complete 60 hours of unpaid work and pay £100 compensation to each of the three victims along with £1.50 to the Co-operative for the stolen Stella.

He must also pay an £80 victim surcharge and will remain under a criminal behaviour order for a period of two years.