Man Jailed For Assaulting Burgess Hill Petrol Station Worker

A man who threw hot coffee over a petrol station worker before punching and kicking him has been jailed.

Muhammad Saeed, 20, of Tennyson Close in Crawley, entered the Shell petrol station on London Road in Burgess Hill at around 10pm on 15 December last year.

He was asked to stop eating cookies and drinking coffee at the counter, but refused to leave after an argument with a shop worker.

Saeed then threw hot coffee over the victim before punching and kicking him.

He also stole another coffee from the machine without paying.

The worker was left feeling anxious and fearful of other customers while at work.

Saeed admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and theft at Lewes Crown Court, where he was sentenced to two years and four months in prison on 10 August.

Detective Constable Annabel Turner said:

“Saeed carried out a shocking assault on a retail worker.

“It followed an argument where the defendant was being deliberately obstructive, refusing to stop eating and drinking at the counter where he had spilled coffee.

“Despite the shop worker’s reasonable request for Saeed to take his items and leave the shop, Saeed instead launched the hostile assault by throwing hot coffee over the victim, then further assaulted him inside the shop.

“The incident has had an ongoing impact on the victim, who should not have to fear being assaulted while at work.

“We identified the suspect from CCTV images and Saeed was arrested. He is now serving a custodial sentence.”