A MAN who threatened to torch a Southampton takeaway has been spared an immediate jail term.
Danzig Wooff stormed into a Pizza House in St Mary Street, punched two members of staff in the face and told them: "You don't know who you're dealing with. I will burn your living."
Wooff, 30, of Wyndham Court, Southampton, was handed a suspended prison sentence at the city's magistrates' court.
District Judge Peter Greenfield told the defendant his behaviour warranted a custodial sentence, adding: "Only your early guilty plea and remorse stops you going to prison straight away."
Prosecutor Rachel Standish said the events that unfolded on May 23 this year were the result of a "misunderstanding".
Ms Standish said Pizza House staff had earlier bought a mobile phone from a man who visited the eatery. Wooff claimed the phone was stolen and told them to hand it over, along with two bags he believed were on the premises.
Wooff kicked the front counter, causing the glass display cabinet to crack, as well as punching two members of staff on the jaw.
Miss Standish said he told them: "You don't know who you are dealing with. I will burn your shop down. I will burn your living."
The defendant had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of assault, one of criminal damage and one of threatening to damage or destroy property.
He was handed an eight-week jail term, suspended for 18 months, and a three-year restraining order.
He was also ordered to pay £300 compensation to each of the two men he assaulted and £200 to Pizza House for the damage to the counter.
READ MORE: Man jailed after firearm incident at Southampton takewaway
Last year Southampton Crown Court was told about an unrelated incident in which Samuel Boylan ran into Pizza House with a gun in his waistband.
As reported in the Daily Echo, a man he was chasing leapt over the counter and fled through the back of the restaurant. Boylan tried to pursue him but was stopped by staff.
Roderick Blain, prosecuting, said the defendant pulled the gun from his waistband and used it to threaten the owner of the eatery.
Boylan, 32, of Honeysuckle Road, was jailed for six years.
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