A SPECIAL constable was threatened after an incident involving a discarded plastic bottle escalated.

Prosecuting advocate Chris Dunford told the Magistrate’s Court yesterday that Dave Sheppard had been walking on the Bridge, St Sampson’s, when he saw Zak Gill remove the bottle from a plastic bag and throw it onto the ground.

When he asked Gill to pick it up, the 20-year-old refused and swore at him. Mr Sheppard showed Gill his badge and said he would call the police.

‘If you don’t get out of my face, I will nut you,’ Gill told him.

Gill and his friend walked off towards Nocq Road. Mr Sheppard followed them after having called the police. Gill eventually said he would pick up the bottle when he came out of the Co-op and he and his friend went into the store. Police had arrived by the time they came out. The defendant’s friend picked up the bottle.

Assistant-Magistrate Philip Robey said it had been an example of aggressive, offensive and nasty behaviour. It would have been upsetting to Mr Sheppard and anyone else who saw it.

But he said Gill had cooperated with the Probation Service, had found accommodation and was keen to find a job and he did not wish to ‘put him back’. He sentenced Gill to 21 days’ youth detention, suspended for two years, and ordered him to pay £50 in witness fees to Mr Sheppard.

The prosecution offered no evidence on a summons of dropping litter in a public place, which Gill had also denied.