A BEGGAR who sleeps outside a Co-op store threatened to stab a security guard with a needle after being told to move out the way of customers, a court has heard.

Daniel Abrook, 20, didn’t take kindly to the request and got to his feet and told the employee of the supermarket in Old Town: “You don’t know what I have in my ****ing pocket, I have a 2 by 2.”

Not sure what a ‘2 by 2’ meant, the security guard asked Abrook, who replied: “A dirty ****ing needle.”

A call to 999 was then made at around 8.40pm and Abrook was arrested and interviewed.

And on Friday he pleaded guilty to using the threatening words on July 28 towards the security guard.

Nick Barr, on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “He was told to move to make customers feel safe when entering the store.

“While he accepts he was threatening, he denied he was shouting and wasn’t acting in a threatening way to the security guard. He just wanted to sleep.”

Philip Hall, for Abrook, added: “Mr Abrook is a homeless man. He knows that a good place to beg is outside the Co-op in Old Town. He has been moved on in the past without any incident, it’s also a good place to sleep and he was settling in a little bit early.

“Mr Abrook’s patience was wearing thin. He really should have just retreated, instead he started mouthing off and he made reference to what he had in his pocket.

“There is no suggestion the security guard saw what was in Mr Abrook’s pocket and when arrested, Mr Abrook told police exactly what he had done.”

Mr Hall also told the magistrates how Abrook had survived eight days without reoffending since being released from prison last week on August 11 and was in the process of signing up for benefits, as well as getting a script to help with his drug addiction.

Abrook, who also has the bailiffs chasing after him for the £509 he owes in court fees, was ordered to pay £100 compensation to the security guard and a £20 victim surcharge to be taken out of his benefits when he receives them.

Chairman of the bench Geoffrey Earl gave Abrook a 12-month conditional discharge.

Mr Earl said: “That means if you commit any offence between now and 12 months’ time this will be reviewed and you may be punished.”

And he added: “It’s probably wishful thinking we won’t see you again.”