A man who pushed over an 89-year-old customer and broke a 69-year-old pharmacy worker's arm during a “temper tantrum” at a Sidcup pharmacy has been sentenced to an 18-month community order. Curtis Bailey, 33, attacked staff and customers at Southcotts Pharmacy in Main Road after an argument with his then-girlfriend spilled into the shop on February 2.
Attack Details Emerge in Court
Woolwich Crown Court heard that Bailey punched the pharmacy manager in the face, broke another worker's arm by pushing her to the ground, and shoved an 89-year-old customer who tried to calm the row. On Friday (September 18), Bailey was sentenced to an 18-month community order and was released from prison where he had been held on remand.
Prosecutor Arizuna Asante said the violence erupted after Bailey argued with his then-girlfriend while they took her child to nursery. Bailey became angry because he believed his partner did not “discipline” her daughter enough, the court heard. Bailey snatched his girlfriend's phone inside the pharmacy and threw it at her, Mr Asante said.
Victims Suffered Injuries
“When the pharmacy manager tried to intervene, she was punched in the eye,” Mr Asante said. “Another female staff member then became involved and was pushed to the ground. Then an 89-year-old man tried to calm matters down and was pushed over.” The workers suffered a black eye and a broken arm, while the pensioner suffered bruising and pain in his right hip.
Another member of the public ended the attack by chasing Bailey away and punching him, Mr Asante said. Bailey, who had previous convictions for violence, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm against the pensioner, assaults on two pharmacy workers and a battery against his former partner.
Sentencing and Judge's Remarks
Bailey had been held on remand since February and had spent the equivalent of 15 months in prison, the court heard. Sasha Bailey, defending, said her client accepted he had anger-management problems and that a long-term cannabis addiction contributed to his behaviour. She said he had stayed drug-free in custody and taken steps to tackle his offending.
Sentencing Bailey, Recorder Etherington KC described the incident as a “temper tantrum” in which he assaulted two women and an elderly man. The judge dismissed as “ridiculous” Bailey's claim that he acted in self-defence, saying injuries suffered while he was removed from the pharmacy were his own fault. Recorder Etherington KC imposed an 18-month community order requiring Bailey to complete rehabilitation work. The time Bailey had spent on remand was a key factor as to why he wasn't given a prison sentence, the court heard.
“When I look at you the problem you're facing is that you are 33. A lot of people grow out of offending like this, if it carries on into your 30s it just becomes sad,” Recorder Etherington said. "Prison becomes your life. There's no reason it has to be like that, you're still young enough to change."
The judge also imposed a restraining order until 2030, banning Bailey from contacting his former partner directly or indirectly. Bailey was also banned from going to any address where he knows or suspects she lives or works, or from entering Southcotts Pharmacy.
