A THUG grabbed a pizza delivery man by the throat and threatened him with a plank of wood.

Karl Millican was drunk when he saw Tuhami Harrous outside his block of flats in Bexhill.

Mr Harrous said while his English language understanding is not fluent, he was able to recognise the repeated use of the word f*** by Millican.

The 34-year-old was stopped when Mr Harrous flagged down a passing police patrol.

Millican was arrested and spat at a police officer, who also found him in possession of a stun gun.

At Hove Crown Court, His Honour Judge Jeremy Gold QC said the yob had “run out of luck” with suspended sentences, and jailed Millican for nine months.

Hove Crown Court

Hove Crown Court

Richard Barton, prosecuting, said the offences took place on August 21 last year at a premises in Devonshire Road, Bexhill.

Mr Harrous had gone to a block of flats to deliver a pizza to a resident, but had trouble gaining access to the building.

Millican was standing outside having a cigarette and became abusive, grabbing Mr Harrous by the throat.

Mr Barton said: “The word f*** was used by the defendant a considerable number of times.”

Millican grabbed Mr Harrous for as long as 15 seconds, choking him.

Mr Harrous said: “I am scared and shaken still. I have flashbacks and was worried about what he would do. I was terrified.

“I was very fortunate that the police were there at the right time. It could have escalated.”

He said he now feels vulnerable working at night and delivering pizzas to people’s homes.

Aphra Bruce-Jones, defending, said Millican started drinking too much following the death of his father ten years ago.

He “gets into trouble” because of alcohol and he also struggles with speech and language understanding.

Karl Millican was jailed for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assaulting an emergency worker, and possession of an offensive weapon in Bexhill

Karl Millican was jailed for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assaulting an emergency worker, and possession of an offensive weapon in Bexhill

Ms Bruce-Jones said her client has started engaging with support workers and made progress to turn his life around.

“Clearly alcohol is the problem, and he needs to get it under control,” the barrister said.

Judge Gold QC said: “The pizza delivery man was entitled to go about his business without being attacked. The police are entitled to go about their duties without being spat at.

“You have been before the courts on 23 occasions and the courts have dealt with you leniently and in the past every possible alternative to custody has been tried, largely, if not entirely, without success.

“You have to understand that your drunken, violent behaviour is going to lead you to going to prison. I’m afraid after so many court appearances that day has come.

“This kind of offending means you go to prison. You have had dozens of chances in the past and I’m afraid you are out of luck.”

Millican, of Devonshire Road, Bexhill, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assaulting an emergency worker, and possession of an offensive weapon. He is now behind bars.

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