Pensioner trashed opticians in overcharge row

A pensioner with convictions spanning half a century trashed his opticians after demanding a refund, a court heard.

Alan Parkinson, 68, destroyed glasses, display cabinets and a computer causing more than £10,000 worth of damage at John Lewis Opticians in Mitcham, south London.

He also threw a chair at an employee after insisting he had been overcharged.

Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court heard Parkinson had been convicted 49 times for more than 200 offences stretching back to 1959.

Paul Adams, prosecuting, said: ‘These matters relate to the 27 February 2016 at John Lewis Opticians on London Road, Mitcham.

‘Mr Parkinson has pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to property to the value of more than £5,000 and affray on that occasion.

‘At around ten in the morning, Mr Parkinson went into John Lewis Opticians, where he was well known as a customer by Dr Awan and a member of staff, Mr Shoaib.

‘Mr Parkinson attended on that occasion to get a refund for some glasses he had purchased previously, after his daughter told him he had paid too much.

‘Mr Parkinson asked Mr Shoaib why he didn’t give him a discount on the glasses and frames he had bought, to which Mr Shoaib told him it was because he hadn’t purchased them together.

‘He asked him to refund his purchase, but this was refused as they did not offer refunds.

‘At this, Mr Parkinson became angry and agitated. His eyes were bulging and he was huffing and puffing.

‘He said: ‘I know how to get my money and I will destroy this shop’ before turning and leaving.

‘Around 20 minutes afterwards, he returned to the shop and said: ‘Last chance, are you going to give me my money?’

‘Mr Shoaib tried to calm him down, but Mr Parkinson picked up a chair and walked to where Mr Shoaib was standing and started swinging it around.

‘He swung it at Mr Shoaib, but missed and hit a cabinet which shattered.

‘Mr Parkinson then threw the chair in the direction of Mr Shoaib, but he managed to avoid it.

‘He then threw a green plastic glasses tray, then picked up a computer screen and smashed it on the floor.

‘Mr Parkinson then pointed to him and said: ‘You don’t know me.’

‘The estimated damage is in the region of some £10,000.

‘It is also right to say he is known to the courts. He has 49 previous convictions for more than 200 offences between 1959 and 2012.’

District Judge James Henderson said: ‘What makes this offence more serious is that this is clearly a revenge attack.

‘Although the last offence was a while ago, it was for criminal damage, for which you received a 12-month sentence suspended for 24 months at Kingston Crown Court.

‘The criminal damage itself is serious, but added to that the affray with a weapon, because that’s what the chair was, means this is a definite case for the Crown Court.’

Parkinson, of the Beeches, London Road, Mitcham, admitted criminal damage and affray.

He will be sentenced at Kingston Crown Court at a date yet to be determined.