Ex-Spurs ace Chris Armstrong faces jail after PUNCHING Tesco worker during rampage after he couldn’t buy cigarettes
FORMER Premier League star Chris Armstrong faces a potential jail sentence for smashing up a Tesco Express store and punching a worker after being denied cigarettes.
The ex-Spurs striker, 50, admitted running amok at the supermarket, causing £2,000 worth of damage.
He kicked over security scanners and punched employee Alex Boatang when told the 24-hour shop was shut at 2.15am.
Armstrong admitted common assault and criminal damage when he appeared in court yesterday.
Prosecutor Nathan Fuller said: “Officers were called to Tesco because of a report of an aggressive and violent man smashing up the store.
“He gained access by forcing his way through the door, demanding cigarettes. The store was temporarily closed because the staff were taking a break.
“When he was told he couldn’t buy cigarettes, he became aggressive.”
During his rampage, Armstrong kicked over a stand of baskets and damaged other property in the store.
Mr Boatang tried to confront Armstrong, telling him to stop — but he “turned and punched the worker in the face with a closed fist”, said Mr Fuller.
The employee fell to the floor and was kicked in the shin by Armstrong.
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The victim suffered injuries including a grazed leg and was taken to hospital to be checked over.
Armstrong ran from the shop but was arrested by police shortly afterwards.
McKenzie Webster, defending, described the incident last July as an “impulsive and short-lived assault”.
The retired footballer did not realise the shop was closed but there was a problem with the locking mechanism so the doors were partially open, she said.
Armstrong had been buying cigarettes from the store in Chelsea, West London, for 14 years, Westminster magistrates’ court heard. Chairman of the bench Alan Elias ordered probation reports but warned: “We do think the community order threshold has been passed.”
The maximum sentence for common assault is six months in jail.
Armstrong, who lives in Chelsea, was bailed ahead of sentencing next month.
He became the first Prem player to get a drugs ban in 1995 after testing positive for cannabis. In 2016, The Sun revealed he had been convicted of possessing cocaine, cannabis and ecstasy and fined £375.
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Armstrong began his career at Wrexham in 1989 and played for Millwall before joining Crystal Palace.
After netting 45 times in 188 games for the Eagles, he became Tottenham’s most expensive signing at the time when he joined for £4.5million in 1995 and scored 48 times in 141 appearances.
