Shoplifter tried to gouge security guard's eye out at Sainsbury's store

David Owen also deliberately picked at scabs on his own face before putting his bloody fingers in the security guard's mouth during the attack.

Leeds Crown Court heard Owen and his partner went to the Sainsbury's store at Trinity Walk, Wakefield, on May 23 this year.

Owen waited for the woman outside but she was detained by a member of security staff as she tried to leave with a trolley full of alcohol.

Imran Khan, prosecuting, said Owen entered the store to try to assist her but was stopped by a second security guard.

Staff members recognised Owen from previous incidents at the store.

The defendant became aggressive and stood close to the security guard.

He then tilted his head backwards before thrusting it forwards and spitting forcefully into the victim's face.

Mr Khan said the security officer tried to detain Owen.

The 37-year-old scratched at scabs on his face until his fingers were covered in blood.

He then put his fingers into the security guard's mouth.

The inside of his mouth was scratched during the struggle.

The security guard managed to drag Owen to the floor but the defendant put his finger into his eye.

The prosecutor said: "He pushed his index finger in to his right eye and tried to curl his finger around his eyeball.

"He could feel him trying to pull his eye out from his eye socket."

The victim suffered soreness and reddening to his eye and the inside of his mouth.

Police were called and arrested Owen at the store.

He swore at officers and refused to give them his name.

He then said: "If you had not have stopped me I would have smashed his f****** head in."

Owen was searched and found in possession of a knife.

Mr Khan said the security guard faced an agonising wait for test results after the attack to see if he had an infection.

He said: "Due to the coronavirus crisis he was deeply concerned that he could be infected and concerned that he might have diseases such as hepatitis or HIV.

"He faced a long wait to find out if he had been infected with a potential life-threatening disease."

Owen, of Charles Street, Eastmoor, Wakefield, refused to comment when interviewed about the incident.

He pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possession of a knife in public.

Satpal Roth-Sharma, mitigating, said Owen had been abusing alcohol and had mental health problems at the time of the attack.

She said: "It was an incredibly awful attack which left the security guard feeling unstable.

"He simply wasn't thinking straight and he is remorseful for that."

Ms Roth-Sharma said Owen had written a letter of apology to the security guard.

Owen was jailed for 16 months.

Judge Robin Mairs said: "This was a vicious and sustained attack on a man who was doing nothing more than earning a living from doing his work."