Christine CunninghamA shoplifter threw a bottle of wine at a Norwich store manager when he was approached after trying to leave the store without paying for the drink.Christine Cunningham

A shoplifter threw a bottle of wine at a Norwich store manager when he was approached after trying to leave the store without paying for the drink.

Andrew Williams, manager of the Aldi store in Larkman Lane, suffered a nasty cut when he was hit on the head by the bottle, which was thrown by Jose Goncalves. He had tried to leave the store with the bottle hidden down his trousers.

Lori Tucker, prosecuting at Norwich Crown Court, said that Goncalves, 29, had also challenged staff to a fight in front of dozens of frightened shoppers, including children.

When police arrested Goncalves, he continued to be aggressive and kept spitting at officers, and had to be restrained using an emergency restraint belt.

Mrs Tucker said that Mr Williams needed three stitches in the wound to his head, which also had glass embedded in it.

Goncalves of Compass Tower, Munnings Road, Heartsease, admitted causing actual bodily harm to Mr Williams and theft on September 22 last year.

Jailing him for 32 weeks, Recorder Christopher Makey told Goncalves he accepted he had been drinking at the time of the offence, but said he had caused a 'very unpleasant' injury to the back of the head of Mr Williams.

He added: The incident happened in front of a number of members of the public including children.'

Graham King, for Goncalves, said: 'He recognises his behaviour on this occasion was appalling.'

Goncalves had been drinking most of the day and he had gone to the shop to get more drink.

Mr King added that drink was at the heart of the problems for Goncalves.