A PUNTER who threatened to slit the throat of a bookmaker’s assistant has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Raymond John Warren, 54, has also been banned from BetFred’s Walmgate branch in York where he terrified a staff member on November 29.

Martin Butterworth, prosecuting, told York magistrates the employee told Warren to leave when he started to drink beer inside the shop.

Warren objected and said: “I am going to slit your throat and smash all the shop windows” and “I am going to ...... get you”.

Fearing for his safety, the assistant locked himself in behind the counter and alerted police via an alarm button.

Warren was arrested in Goodramgate shortly afterwards.

Warren, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to a public order offence and was given an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months on condition he doesn’t enter the Betfair store for the next 12 months.

He must also pay an £80 surcharge.

Craig Robertson, defending, said: “He is an abrasive individual. He had made his bet and was simply sitting down and having a drink and he was asked to leave.”

Warren did not have a knife or other weapon on him.

He had been drinking at the time and was now deeply remorseful for what he said, the court heard. He lived on the streets unless he could find a friend willing to put him up, and lived on income support.

Mr Butterworth said Warren betted at the shop about once a month.

On November 29, he entered at 5.15pm, bet on a horse race and started to drink from a beer can.

The assistant told him not to drink alcohol in the shop.

He grumbled incoherently, and when he was asked to leave, became aggressive and swore at the assistant.

The employee told police he had been on his own in the shop at the time, and was genuinely concerned for his safety when he had to lock up.