Pensioner Wrecked Opticians During Specs Refund Row

An angry pensioner laid waste to an opticians premises after he was refused a refund on a pair of specs - causing £10,000 worth of damage with a metal chair.

Alan Parkinson, 68, of The Beeches, London Road, Mitcham, insisted he was due a discount on his recent purchase and threatened: "I'll destroy your shop."

He pleaded guilty to causing an affray at John Lewis Opticians, 261 London Road, Mitcham on February 27 and causing £10,000 worth of criminal damage to display cabinets, spectacles and a computer.

Prosecutor Mr. Paul Adams told Wimbledon Magistrates Court that Parkinson was a regular customer and entered the opticians at 10am.

"He wanted a refund for some glasses, he was not happy and said his daughter told him he had paid too much."

Heavily-tattooed Parkinson, who has 243 offences on his record, was told there was no discount due because the frames and lenses had been bought at different times.

The store manager Zaid Shoaib and the consultant refused to budge, causing Parkinson further irritation.

"He was huffing and puffing and his eyes were bulging," added Mr. Adams. "He said: 'I know what I'll do, I'll destroy your shop.'

"He left but returned ten minutes later and said: 'Last chance. Are you going to give me a refund?'

"He picked up a chair and swung it around the store, destroying property including a glass cabinet, which shattered.

"He threw the chair in the direction of Mr. Shoaib and it missed.

"He picked up a glasses tray and threw it and then picked up a computer screen and smashed it."

As he left the scene of destruction Parkinson turned and warned the two men: "You don't know me."

District Judge James Henderson told Parkinson, who has convictions dating back to 1959, he would have to be sentenced at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court.

"This is all the more serious because it is a revenge attack. Mr. Parkinson did not like what was going on and took revenge on the store.

"This sort of behaviour is extremely serious. The criminal damage alone puts this in the Crown Court area, plus the affray, with a weapon, which is what this chair was."