A PROLIFIC Barrow offender is back behind bars after causing a shopkeeper to feel ‘huge distress’.

Peter Greaves, formerly of Smeaton Street, pleaded guilty to a racially aggravated public order offence, a racially aggravated criminal damage offence, breach of bail and possession of cannabis.

Preston Crown Court heard the 31-year-old used threatening and abusive language - including of a racial nature - towards shopkeeper Balachandran Jaysingh who was working at Arnolds Newsagents on Salthouse Road in Barrow at around 10pm on April 17 2022.

Prosecutor Fiona McNeill said Greaves became aggressive after he was denied a bottle of vodka on credit.

The court was played CCTV footage from the incident which showed the defendant to smash part of the display on the counter before ripping away the till.

CCTV footage then showed Greaves pointing towards Mr Jaysingh in a threatening manner, which caused him to fear that he was going to be attacked, the court heard.

The defendant then hit out at the lottery counter before leaving the shop.

Miss McNeill said the damage would cost Mr Jaysingh £330 to replace and described how he felt ‘huge distress’ as a result of the defendant’s actions.

Greaves was arrested by police on April 18 where he was found to be in possession of a small amount of cannabis.

In mitigation Sarah Magill said her client had already served the equivalent of a six-month sentence in custody.

She said: “He was hit by a train in 2009 and was left with a brain injury. He has made changes to alleviate his problems by moving away from the Barrow area to Hull.

“He has done well in keeping dry and sober and is deeply ashamed of what he did that day in belittling, minimising and patronising the complainant. He wishes to apologise for his disgusting behaviour through me.”

The court heard Greaves had 28 previous convictions for 50 offences and was subject to a community order at the time of the offences.

Jailing the defendant for eight months, His Honour Judge Darren Preston said: “This was a disgraceful act of entitlement and racism. People who work in shops are vulnerable and they need to be protected from people like you.

“It is clear from seeing the reaction of you watching the CCTV footage that you are ashamed of what you did.”