Exclusive:Racist homophobe who threatened man with a hammer and stole from Aldi is spared jail
Gibbs vehemently disagreed with the facts of the case, despite having already pleaded guilty.
A man who threatened a man with a hammer, and assaulted another while he shoplifted a supermarket, has evaded a prison sentence.
David Gibbs, 41 of Chaucer Close, Waterlooville, waved a hammer at a man from his apartment balcony in May this year, threatening to kill him. One month later, he was stealing alcohol from the Aldi in Fratton Way, Portsmouth, when he attacked a member of the public - who was trying to stop him from shoplifting.
In both incidents, he made derogatory comments about people’s race and sexuality.
At Portsmouth Magistrates Court today (Thursday, October 8) he appeared in the dock for sentencing, having pleaded guilty to theft from a shop, assault by beating, two counts of using threatening words or behaviour, two counts of racially aggravated harassment, and one count of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.
Giles Fletcher, prosecuting, said: “In May, police were dealing with an incident that didn’t really have anything to do with the defendant. He started shouting and becoming involved, then went up to his flat and onto the balcony, then shouted ‘if I see this person again I’m going to kill the c***’. He then comes back out armed with a hammer.
“Police went into the flat, whereupon he started shouting about ‘dirty f***ing p***s’ and making other racially aggravating comments.
“For the second incident, a man saw the defendant fill his bag up with goods in Aldi, Fratton Way. He confronted Gibbs, who called him a ‘f*****’ and threatened to kick his head into the pavement.
“He then told the security guard to go back to his own country - it’s all quite horrifying, really. He then threw a box at the victim, cutting his lip in the process.”
Gibbs, who wore a black hoodie and charcoal tracksuit trousers in the dock, shook his head vigorously as the facts of the case were laid out in court.
Lian Webster, representing Gibbs, said: “The root cause of all this was the defendant’s alcoholism, which comes as no surprise. He feels aggrieved by the way he was handled by the police officers, but that does not excuse his actions.”
Gibbs was sentenced to an 18-month community order, including 30 days of alcohol abstinence, 120 hours of unpaid work, and rehabilitation requirements. Between fines, compensation to Aldi and legal costs, he now owes the court £441.31.