A DRUNK teenager threw a punch at supermarket staff and made threats to “cut their throats” and “eat their eyes”.

Logan Wray, 18, was asked to leave the Tesco Highwoods supermarket in Colchester after staff became concerned over his behaviour.

But Colchester Magistrates’ Court heard when he was confronted, he became verbally aggressive.

Both the store manager and the member of staff attempted to escort him from the store, and Wray swung his arm to try to punch the staff member in the face.

The court heard he didn’t connect, but knocked his glasses from his face.

Outside, Wray made efforts to get back into the store and shouted abuse towards the manager and the staff member, including threats to kill them, to eat their eyes and to cut their throat.

The court heard the store manager was “overwhelmed”

and scared Wray’s behaviour would get worse.

The two staff members restrained Wray until the arrival of the police.

Further comments were made, including a threat that a staff member “would choke on his own blood”.

When an officer arrived to arrest Wray, he grabbed him by the thumb and pinched his skin.

Wray admitted assault by beating, assault on an emergency worker and using threatening or abusive words.

The court heard he had no memory of the incident and apologised for his actions the next day.

Lucy Osborn, mitigating, detailed Wray’s difficult childhood, which included intervention from social services and a period of homelessness.

“This situation, the fact he was arrested and held in police custody, is something of a wake-up call,” she said.

She said Wray, of De Gray Road, Colchester, had ceased drinking and had turned his life around, living independently and finding full-time job. The court heard the teenager is “deeply ashamed” of his actions.

Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order, requiring Wray to complete 80 hours of unpaid work.

He must pay £50 in compensation to each member of staff and the police officer.