Stressed-Out Bloke Starts Window Cleaning

The manager of a city store restaurant went berserk when he was accused of fiddling the books and ranted and raved in front of colleagues and shoppers. The 26-year-old, who worked for British Homes Stores in Eastgate Street, shouted threats at fellow staff members, holding one of them in a headlock and pulled over display cabinets of stock. The outburst followed a disciplinary meeting during which Peter Grice of Leeming Walk, Kingsway, Quedgeley, was suspended and escorted from the store. Grice pleaded guilty on Tuesday to using threatening words and behaviour and to criminal damage. "The defendant was the subject of a disciplinary meeting regarding accusations of falsifying company records."After the meeting he was escorted through the building and when he saw the store manager he shouted 'Dead Man Walking'. "He then knocked stock on to the floor and attempted to push over fixtures and fittings. "The defendant was restrained by a colleague from behind but pulled away and damaged more stock. His flailing arm caught a colleague on the cheek. "He then pushed over a box of NSPCC badges and pushed over more fixtures. "He shouted abuse at a colleague and tried to punch him; he then put his head in an arm lock."After he left the store police were called." Defending solicitor Roz Jackson said: "The defendant has been going through an extremely difficult period, with problems at home concerning the care and custody of a stepson and also problems at work. "He was very upset and aggrieved by the disciplinary process and it all came to a head when he was suspended. "He lost his temper and is very regretful for his actions. "My client has now set up his own window-cleaning business and has two children.