AN asylum seeker who threatened a man with a snooker cue was spared jail after magistrates praised his “dignity”.
Shkar Jamal, 24, had been due to be sentenced for carrying an offensive weapon last month.
But his case was adjourned when he left court to eat fish and chips outside.
Now he has got a community order and 100 hours of unpaid work.
Iraq-born Jamal brandished the cue outside a Bournemouth snooker club at a man he claimed insulted his family.
Lawyer Selina Goddard told Poole JPs: “He says he’d relish the opportunity to do unpaid work as it would allow him to give back and make good for his appearance before the court.”
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Magistrate chair Alan Bennett told Jamal: “We are sure that Ms Goddard has explained to you the normal starting point for such an offence is six months in jail.
“Any offence of assault when you are armed with any sort of weapon is very serious.
“However, due to a number of circumstances we don’t believea custodial sentence is appropriate in this case.
“You are still a relatively young man of previous good character and have had difficult personal circumstances.
“We are not unsympathetic to your position.
“Whilst you made an error of judgement, since then you have conducted yourself with dignity and that helps to rehabilitate yourself in the eyes of the law.
“We wish you good fortune for the future.”
