Pizza delivery driver reduced to tears by man's abuse
Graham Shoebridge, of Old Torwood Road, slammed his front door in Susan Aiston's face and ended up in court for his actions.
The 35-year-old, who has a string of previous convictions and has served time behind bars, was not present for the hearing but phoned in ahead saying he did not feel well.
The court later heard he was in London.
Before the full hearing, his solicitor Simon Colman withdrew from the proceedings.
Magistrates, sitting in Newton Abbot, found him guilty of using threatening, abusive, insulting words or behaviour.
Chris Bittlestone, prosecuting, said at about 9.30pm on Sunday, July 13 Shoebridge had ordered a pizza from Dominos and Ms Aiston, a pizza delivery driver, took it to his flat. Shoebridge answered his front door wearing a dressing gown.
In evidence Ms Aiston said: "He asked me to look at the pizza first. I went to open the box but could only open one corner. I asked him to help me and we both peered at the pizza inside."
The court heard Shoebridge took exception to the pizza's quality.
She added: "There was an extreme reaction. His demeanour completely changed from normal and respectable to pure anger.
"There was a lot of swearing and he was derogatory about pizzas from Dominos. It was just a verbal tirade really."
He slammed the door in his face. Ms Aiston initially went to walk away but decided to reproach him for being so rude, the court heard.
"I was a little taken aback to say the least," she said.
"I was feeling angry and upset because it had been a long day. Then I thought, 'that is not fair' and knocked on his door again. I could see he was there. I said through the door 'there is no need for that, how rude'
"He opened the door and I got another tirade of abuse.
"I was still holding the pizza and he swung his arm up and under the box and that came up in my face. It knocked my cap off. I just burst into tears."
Shoebridge's neighbour, nurse Pamela Greenwood took Ms Aiston into her home and called police.
Shoebridge attended Torquay police station the following day where he was formally arrested and interviewed.
He denied intimidating the Dominos worker, saying he was 'clear and polite' and insisted the two women were lying.
But magistrates disagreed and said the witnesses were 'clear, concise and reliable'.
Mr Bittlestone told the court Shoebridge had a history of similar offences including harassing witnesses, sending abusive communications, battery and failing to surrender to custody.
He also spent time in prison after a custodial sentence was imposed following a court case in 2007.
Magistrates found him guilty of the offence and issued a warrant for his arrest.
