A NORTHWICH man caused shoppers to be intimidated after he swung a metal pole around his head in a supermarket car park.

Kevin Evans, 24, was found guilty of disorderly behaviour when he appeared at Vale Royal Magistrates Court.

Evans was hanging around with a group of mates outside the Somerfield supermarket, on Chesterway, when he picked up a metal bar and started to swing it at concrete bollards.

The court was told that shoppers, many elderly, were scared of the group who they felt were acting in an aggressive manner.

When the police were called, Evans said he was swinging at the bush because he thought it needed a trim.

Mr Holliday, defending, said: “He was waiting for a lift in the car park and he picked up the bar and started messing around with it.

“Members of the public were alarmed but the group didn’t mean anything bad by it.”

The court was also told that Evans was currently serving a suspended sentence and Keith Oakes, magistrate, warned him that next time it could be more serious.

“You should stay out of trouble,” he said.

“It is a minor offence this time but you just can’t afford to do it.”

Evans was fined £135 including costs.