Trolley rage flared into violence when two men began scrapping in Tescos in Broadstairs.

The incident had been sparked by them bumping into each other in the busy store, followed by homophobic remarks and a second encounter when punches were thrown.

Police arrested Gary Walker, 39, of Linley Road, St Peter’s, Broadstairs, who was convicted of assault causing actual bodily harm and appeared for sentence at Canterbury Crown Court today, Thursday August 31.

Judge Timothy Nash told the former soldier that people in supermarkets were entitled to the protection of the law and that he had to learn to control his temper, whatever the provocation.

Walker was sentenced to 10 months, suspended for 12 months with 200 hours community work. He must also pay £500 costs and £250 costs to the victim, Colin Eggleston.

Denzil Pugh, prosecuting, said both men were shopping on November 11. “Their paths crossed and they bumped into each other. There were apologies, but on Mr Walker’s side, there was an element of homophobia in the exchange,” said Mr Pugh.

Moments later there was another encounter with similar remarks. When Mr Eggleston was waiting to buy cigarettes, Walker came up behind him and Mr Eggleston told him to go away. Walker threw two punches hitting the victim’s eyes.

Walker grabbed Mr Eggleston and both fell, then Walker left the store, making further disparaging remarks as he left.

Mr Eggleston suffered abrasions, swellings and bruises to his face.

Walker was arrested and in a statement said he acted in self defence, regarding himself as being under threat at the start of the incident. He had convictions back in the 1990s for affray and assault but his lawyer Lucy Organ, asked the court to accept there was a degree of provocation in a bump and a push towards the accused’s wife and young child, but she conceded the level of violence was unacceptable.

Walker had served with the Parachute Regiment in Northern Ireland and Bosnia but left the Army after developing asthma. Following that he drifted and was unable to settle and suffered stress and depression but was now receiving counselling and was seeking to address his anger management problems.

Sentencing Walker, Judge Nash said: “I am no stranger to supermarkets and I marvel at the rudeness and selfishness one frequently comes across displayed by other people and they are not infrequently the scene of bad temper.”

He told Walker his experience should have taught him to control his temper and whatever the provocation, he should have risen above it. The homophobic element was a serious aggravating feature and anybody looking at the store’s CCTV would describe his conduct as impulsive, thuggish and wholly unjustified.