A MENACING shoplifter armed with a snooker ball in a sock threatened to cut a security guard’s nose off after he was caught with stolen goods.

Alexander Barker, of Locking Road, appeared at North Somerset Courthouse in St Georges on March 17 to plead guilty to charges of theft and possessing an offensive weapon.

The court heard how on March 16, at about 11.45am, a plain-clothed security guard from Superdrug in High Street smelled alcohol as Barker walked past.

The guard monitored 28-year-old Barker and watched him fill his shopping basket with mouthwash, a toothbrush and Nivea products, before watching him take an item out of its packaging.

Prosecuting, Jane Cooper, said: “He then put the basket down, took his bag off his back and tipped the contents into his bag before leaving the basket by the door and leaving the shop.

“After being approached by the security guard he asked what was happening and became aggressive.

“He indicated to the security guard that he was going to cut his nose off and said ‘if I see you outside I’m going to cut you open’.”

Police were called and, after searching Barker, products worth �25.84 were found, as well as a black balaclava, gloves and a sock with a snooker ball in.

Mitigating, Simon Hutchings, said Barker knew what he did was ‘stupid’.

Mr Hutchings said: “He had the full intention of paying and said he put them in his bag as his basket was too small.

“He has the balaclava for shooting and keeps the snooker ball in a sock for self-defence, but he usually keeps this at home. There is no suggestion that he was going to use it.”

Barker was given a community order lasting until September 14 this year, a 6pm-6am curfew for eight weeks and was ordered to pay court costs of �85.