Charles Wilton sentenced after incident in South Norwood chicken shop

Charles Douglas Wilton, of Honister Heights, was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court today (February 1) following the incident at Favourite Chicken & Ribs in South Norwood High Street on June 25 last year.

The court heard how the 32-year-old was showing “aggressive behaviour” at 2am that day, and members of the public alerted police to the commotion.

One person spotted the imitation firearm on Wilton before they shouted: “He has a gun!”

While Wilton, a dad of one, was being restrained by officers, the fake gun fell from the back of his trousers but it was “quickly established” it was made of rubber.

Prosecutors told Judge Adam Hiddleston he had bought it online from Amazon as a form of protection around Norwood.

Wilton would be remanded into custody and put in a jail cell before he was heard “banging loudly” on its door, the court heard.

It was when a police officer tried to calm him down that he became verbally aggressive, called him the n-word several times and challenged him to a “one-on-one”.

Prosecutors also told the court he was pointing at the tattoo on his chest and said: “See if I am hardcore you f***ing n*****, come in here and I will smash you up.”

Favourite Chicken & Ribs in South Norwood High Street. Photo: Google Maps / Street View

Evaluations would reveal Wilton was drunk at the time of his arrest and tested positive for cocaine, before police discovered he had nine jars of cannabis and drugs paraphernalia in his home.

During sentencing Judge Hiddleston was told by the defence Wilton, who was “shocked to wake up in a cell”, showed “genuine remorse” and was “appalled” by his behaviour.

He would apologise in a letter to the officer in question, cut down on his alcohol intake and access rehabilitation services in the months since then.

The defence told the court Wilton is the “sole provider” to his son and partner, and an immediate jail sentence could jeopardise his family’s living situation.

Charles Douglas Wilton (Photo: Facebook)

After viewing a six-minute clip of body-worn video footage and deliberating for more than an hour, Judge Hiddleston described the defendant’s racial abuse as “disgusting” at sentencing.

The court heard him say that the court seeks custodial sentences in situations similar to this, taking offences Wilton committed “very seriously”.

However, the defendant, who was dressed in a navy blue suit and clutching a copy of the Holy Bible, exhaled loudly when he was handed a nine-month jail sentence - suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to attend a rehabilitation programme for 25 days, access alcohol treatment and complete 150 hours of unpaid work.

Judge Hiddleston said if he sentenced Wilton to prison immediately then his family would “undoubtedly become victims of your actions”, something they “do not deserve”.