Yob's middle-finger salute after hurling Greggs sausage rolls during drunken rage

Thomas Bailey
Thomas Bailey -Credit:StokeOnTrentLive


A yob who hurled Greggs sausage rolls at a worker before making a gun gesture has walked free from court for his drunken rampage. Thomas Bailey told the Greggs worker "I am coming back tomorrow to finish you off" before pretending to fire a gun with his fingers.

The 24-year-old also pinched two boxes of doughnuts from the store before fleeing. Just months earlier, Bailey punched a punter in the face while working as a nightclub bouncer.

The victim's nose had to be manipulated back into place and he was left with a huge £1,600 dentist fe. North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard how Bailey was in Greggs, in Hanley, on October 8 last year.

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Prosecutor Hannah Baddeley said: "He swiped two boxes of doughnuts from the display. The complainant called him stupid. He picked up sausage rolls and threw them at her but no contact was made.

"He said "I am coming back tomorrow to finish you off" and he pointed two fingers mimicking a gun and made a motion as if firing a gun at her." Bailey then went to the Potteries Centre, where a security guard spotted the 'animated' and 'aggressive' defendant, StokeonTrentLive reports.

Ms Baddeley said: "The victim grabbed hold of him. The defendant turned. The victim was assisted by others in ushering him out the building. He felt the defendant's leg trying to kick out but he was not sure if there was any contact.

"The police arrived. He was abusive. He continued to make threats. His behaviour was described as erratic. He continued at the police station. He had taken 30 paracetamol and was taken to hospital. He continued to make threats to the officer."

The court also heard how Bailey was working as a bouncer at Studio nightclub, in Nantwich, on March 11 last year. An 'altercation' took place with an 'intoxicated' customer, who repeatedly asked why he was being chucked out of the venue.

The defendant did not answer, with the victim putting his hand on the club's back door to stop it from closing. Bailey then started shouting "get back, get back" before 'charging forward' and lunging at the victim.

He then punched the victim in the face, the prosecutor said. She added: "The victim remembers waking up covered in blood and in pain. He sustained significant facial injuries. He lost consciousness at A&E.

"He woke up and was told he had concussion. A CT scan showed significant damage to the bottom sight side of his jaw. It was swollen but not broken. He was unable to breathe out of his left nostril and had two black eyes.

"Eight days after his discharge he had to return to hospital to have his nose manipulated back into place. He attended the dentist and it cost him £1,600 to have his veneers repaired."

Paul Kay, defending, said Bailey has suffered with acne for three years. Mr Kay said: "Since losing his job as a door supervisor, following the incident, it has flared up massively. It is all over his chest and back.

"It is so bad that wearing a seatbelt is painful and he has to hold the seat belt away. He says the assault was an error of judgement. The injured party was drunk. It does not excuse what he did."

Mr Kay added: "He is sorting himself out but he needs assistance in doing that." Bailey, of no fixed address, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and three counts of using threatening words or behaviour.

He was handed a 24-week sentence, suspended for 18 months. The defendant was told to pay £2,000 compensation to the victim of the nightclub assault, £100 to the Greggs employee and £50 each to the other two victims.

He must also pay a £154 surcharge and comply with a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement.