A YOB who spat at police and threatened to murder a security guard has been ordered to clean up his act.

Jamie Whitworth abused the guard at the Tesco store in Jubilee Street, Brighton.

The 21-year-old then spat at customer Gabriel Andrei Grosu who was trying to help.

After being pinned down by guards, Whitworth chipped a tooth, and later spat blood and phlegm at police who came to arrest him.

Blood

At Brighton Magistrates’ Court he admitted assaults on PC Steven Parsons and on Mr Grosu, and using threatening words or behaviour likely to cause alarm or distress.

Jeremy King, prosecuting, said the incident happened at 8.30pm on November 12.

Mr King said it had been a “nasty incident of assault” committed by a man with 11 previous convictions for 36 offences.

Sussex Police responded to reports that Whitworth had become aggressive.

They arrived to find the defendant being detained by security guards.

He had been smoking a cigarette inside the shop and blowing smoke into guards’ faces.

When asked to leave, Whitworth became abusive.

Whitworth said: “If you touch me, you are dead. I will murder you.”

Mr Grosu was inside the store at the time and tried to intervene, but was spat at, and reported that his mouth was open at the time.

Meanwhile PC Parsons reported that blood and spittle covered his uniform.

PC Parsons said: “In my opinion, spitting is the lowest form of assault.

“I was just trying to do my job when I had to Whitworth to the car so he could be taken into custody.”

Unpleasant

Cathy Walker, defending, said: “There’s no doubt this was a very unpleasant experience for the parties involved.

“My client has accepted these matters, he has not made excuses for his behaviour.”

She said Whitworth had become alcohol dependent in the past year, drinking every day.

He previously grew up in care, with no contact with family relatives, and will continue to have the support of a carer until he is 25.

Magistrate Simon Thorpe said the offences were serious enough for a community order.

He imposed a one-year order to include nine months of alcohol treatment.

Five extra rehabilitation sessions were added to a punishment from an earlier conviction.

Whitworth, of Brunswick Place, Hove, was also put under curfew for the next six weeks from 7.30pm to 6am every day.

He must also pay £50 compensation each to Mr Grosu and to PC Parsons, plus a £85 surcharge and £85 costs.