A man has been given a suspended prison sentence after threatening a customer on a forecourt with a pool cue and demanding he hand over the keys to his vehicle.

Scott Wilson raised the pool cue above his head and ordered Leighton Stephenson to hand over his keys at the Snax 24 garage in Sunderland on December 17 last year.

The victim had paid for his petrol and was threatened by Wilson as he tried to get back into his car. Stephenson then ran back into the shop where he waited for police.

Wilson then entered the shop and bought some items before leaving the premises and discarding his pool cue on the forecourt.

Bridie Smurthwaite, prosecuting, said: “As the victim tried to get into his car, the defendant approached him with the pool cue held high. He said, ‘Give us the car keys’.

“Mr Stephenson was frightened, slammed his car door, ran into the shop and called the police. The defendant walked into the garage, bought something and left.”

CCTV footage from the garage showed Wilson leaning against the car and the victim running off. Wilson was arrested on June 29.

Judge Simon Hickey sentenced Wilson to 18 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years. He was also given a four-month curfew and a two year supervision order.

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