A man who “pestered” a woman outside a Woolwich newsagents threw a Fanta can and knocked her out after she chucked a milkshake over him. 

Assisi Benson appeared at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday April 28 for sentencing after a jury found him guilty of assault occassioning actual bodily harm.

The 39-year-old tried to engage a woman in conversation as they entered Jash Newsagents on Woolwich New Road at around 5.30pm on October 26, 2021. 

He continued to make a “nuisance of himself” even when she made clear that she didn’t want to speak to him by telling him “f**k off”, the court heard. 

As Benson continued to pester her, she threw the contents of a milkshake over him. 

Benson retaliated by throwing a can of Fanta at the woman then knocked her out with a punch, Prosecutor James Dean said. 

The case went to trial after Benson claimed that he was acting in self-defence.

He claimed that the woman said she would bottle him, something she denies. 

He was found guilty by a jury after they viewed CCTV footage from the shop. 

“This was not an act of self-defence, but a gross overreaction in a state of anger,” Mr Dean said. 

News Shopper: Benson took the case to trial claiming he was acting in self-defenceBenson took the case to trial claiming he was acting in self-defence (Image: Metropolitan Police)

Caroline Stewart, defence counsel for Benson, said her client was a family man of good character prior to this incident. 

Judge Malcolm Fortune said: “He made a thorough nuisance of himself on that Sunday afternoon. First engaging the complainant in conversation which was unwanted, then persisting in that conversation which was even more unwanted.” 

He added: “This court cannot and will not ignore the seriousness of offences of violence committed in broad daylight either in a shop or a public street.” 

Judge Fortune sentenced Benson to a community order to last for 18 months, including 150 hours of unpaid work.