A DRUNK man who entered a toy shop and threw a punch at a member of staff after they refused to make a phone call for him has been given a suspended jail term.

The shocking incident took place at The Entertainer in Workington while young families were present during peak shopping time on a Saturday afternoon.

Members of staff had been demonstrating toys outside of the store on June 24 when they noticed Darrel Keen, 30, sat on the bench outside, Workington Magistrates’ Court heard.

Prosecutor Pamela Fee said Keen later came into the store and said: “Can you ring my mum, please?”

He was 'slurring his words' and 'couldn’t stand still'. The member of staff had replied, 'no, sorry'.

Keen was heard shouting at the member of staff and started pulling toys off the till. He was informed that he needed to leave and had thrown something towards the store manager’s face.

The defendant then came back into the store and threw a punch at a member of staff, making contact with his arm, which he put up to protect his face.

Keen continued to shout and a member of staff tried to eject him from the store. The member of staff was telling him it was a children’s shop and he needed to get out.

The defendant said to him, “Why are you saying kids are in here? Are you a paedo?”

A member of the public told Keen to 'get a grip' and 'get out of the store'.

When outside the store, Keen continued to shout. A man came over from the pub opposite and prevented him from getting back inside.

Police officers arrived and Keen was arrested. He was interviewed but made ‘no comment’.

He was shown the CCTV footage and replied, smirking: "That’s not me.”

Ms Fee said the offence was clearly aggravated by the presence of young children.

Keen, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to assault by beating and using threatening, abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

John Cooper, defending, said: “When he was interviewed by police, he was still under the influence, which explains some of the comments made. He is on medication for PTSD.

“The reason he is up here at the moment, he had been speaking with his mum. She has bought a property on John Street in Workington. Potentially, it could be a new start.

“He had been talking to the builders. The builders had taken themselves off to The Ship pub in Workington. He had gone in and spoken to them.

“He had been off alcohol, doing well at that point. He started drinking. He can’t understand why he ended up in The Entertainer.

“He remembers dropping his medication on the floor and the member of staff making some comment about it.

“He was in poor condition at the time. He was asking someone to phone his mum with his mobile phone in his hand.

“If he is going to move up here, he was hoping he could integrate with the local community and have a fresh start. He plans to go back to Stoke-on-Trent.”

Keen was sentenced to nine weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months. He must also pay £85 costs.