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A motorist who drove his classic Rolls Royce into a Tesco superstore after a furious dispute with the store over a missing mattress has been jailed for 16 months.
Robert Caton, 50, went to the supermarket to remonstrate with managers after a bed he ordered from Tesco Direct was delivered without the mattress.
Unhappy with their response he flew into a drunken rage before driving his car through the store's plate glass window.
He caused £60,000 pounds worth of damage and left six women - including one who was pregnant - needing hospital treatment treated for cuts, bruising and shock.
A judge ordered him to forfeit his Rolls Royce and banned him from driving for five years.
Moments before he drove his 1983 Rolls Royce Silver Spirit into the shop he had asked a security guard how long it would take to evacuate the store.
His car wiped out two check outs, scattering shoppers in all directions. Roofing and shelving tumbled to the ground as smoke filled the air, adding to the confusion.
Emergency services dashed to the scene as the store in Andover, Hants, was evacuated on the afternoon of May 20, this year.
Hampshire Ambulance Service scrambled three ambulances plus their air ambulance and took the six women to hospital.
At an earlier hearing grey-haired Caton, from Andover, admitted dangerous driving and failing to provide a specimen of breath.
He denied a charge of causing criminal damage reckless as to whether life was endangered and this was dropped by the prosecution.
Sentencing, Judge Keith Cutler, said there was no excuse for Caton's "appalling" behaviour.
He added: "It was a perfectly ordinary day at Tesco with families and young and old people out shopping but you had other things on your mind.
"You had a grudge against Tesco and you took into your own hands to carry out this appalling piece of driving which had horrific and frightening consequences.
"If every time a customer felt aggrieved at a large company they decided to drive their car into an office or shop then it would be complete mayhem.
"There is not mitigation at all for what you did - it is completely unacceptable.
"Witnesses, including a pregnant woman, were left frightened and injured and some may never shop happily again because of your actions.
"You are lucky you are not facing more serious charges."
Imposing the driving ban the judge added: "The idea of you being behind the wheel of a car fills me with great concern."
Prosecutor Wendy Megeney said Caton had been "confrontational" when he had gone to see Tesco staff about the bed.
She said: "Before Caton left the store he said he would sort it out 'later on'.
"He then went to a Sainsbury's store and bought a bottle of whisky and drank the best part of it."
When he was arrested Caton told police that he had "lost it" and could think of "nothing but smashing the shop window."
Mrs Megeney said that when Caton arrived at the Tesco branch he was approached by a security guard.
She added: "Caton asked him how long it would take to evacuate the store.
"He said that he did not want to hurt anyone and told the guard he would give him five minutes to get everyone out.
"He told the guard he was going to put his car through the window."
The guard tried to clear the store while other staff looked for Caton.
She said: "Then witnesses heard a loud bang from the checkout area caused by Caton driving into the window.
"Caton then reversed about 8ft away before shunting forward again. This time he drove into the window at speed, shattering it before colliding with the check outs.
Peter Asteris, defending, said Caton's anger was directed at Tesco adding: "He simply snapped."
Speaking earlier at the couple's semi-detached home, Caton's wife Deborah insisted her husband had a right to be angry at Tesco's customer service.
The 43-year-old, who has been married to Mr Caton for 17 years, said: "I am standing by Robert - he had a genuine complaint with Tesco.
"We had ordered a wardrobe, a chest of drawers and a double bed from Tesco Direct but when they delivered the bed it did not include a mattress which we thought we had paid for.
"Robert went down to see the manager of the Tesco store in Andover. He got annoyed and drove the car through the shop window."
A Tesco worker said it was 'incredible' no one had been seriously injured or killed in the incident.
The woman said: "People were terrified. They were running for their lives, scrambling out of the way and scattering in all directions.
"From where I was in the store I thought a bomb had gone off - it sounded like a massive explosion."
The Rolls Royce shunted check outs 27 and 28 about 10ft towards the biscuits and confectionary aisle - aisle number 11.
Motorist drove Rolls Royce into Tesco after row over mattress - Telegraph
A motorist who drove his classic Rolls Royce into a Tesco superstore after a furious dispute with the store over a missing mattress has been jailed for 16 months.
Robert Caton, 50, went to the supermarket to remonstrate with managers after a bed he ordered from Tesco Direct was delivered without the mattress.
Unhappy with their response he flew into a drunken rage before driving his car through the store's plate glass window.
He caused £60,000 pounds worth of damage and left six women - including one who was pregnant - needing hospital treatment treated for cuts, bruising and shock.
A judge ordered him to forfeit his Rolls Royce and banned him from driving for five years.
Moments before he drove his 1983 Rolls Royce Silver Spirit into the shop he had asked a security guard how long it would take to evacuate the store.
His car wiped out two check outs, scattering shoppers in all directions. Roofing and shelving tumbled to the ground as smoke filled the air, adding to the confusion.
Emergency services dashed to the scene as the store in Andover, Hants, was evacuated on the afternoon of May 20, this year.
Hampshire Ambulance Service scrambled three ambulances plus their air ambulance and took the six women to hospital.
At an earlier hearing grey-haired Caton, from Andover, admitted dangerous driving and failing to provide a specimen of breath.
He denied a charge of causing criminal damage reckless as to whether life was endangered and this was dropped by the prosecution.
Sentencing, Judge Keith Cutler, said there was no excuse for Caton's "appalling" behaviour.
He added: "It was a perfectly ordinary day at Tesco with families and young and old people out shopping but you had other things on your mind.
"You had a grudge against Tesco and you took into your own hands to carry out this appalling piece of driving which had horrific and frightening consequences.
"If every time a customer felt aggrieved at a large company they decided to drive their car into an office or shop then it would be complete mayhem.
"There is not mitigation at all for what you did - it is completely unacceptable.
"Witnesses, including a pregnant woman, were left frightened and injured and some may never shop happily again because of your actions.
"You are lucky you are not facing more serious charges."
Imposing the driving ban the judge added: "The idea of you being behind the wheel of a car fills me with great concern."
Prosecutor Wendy Megeney said Caton had been "confrontational" when he had gone to see Tesco staff about the bed.
She said: "Before Caton left the store he said he would sort it out 'later on'.
"He then went to a Sainsbury's store and bought a bottle of whisky and drank the best part of it."
When he was arrested Caton told police that he had "lost it" and could think of "nothing but smashing the shop window."
Mrs Megeney said that when Caton arrived at the Tesco branch he was approached by a security guard.
She added: "Caton asked him how long it would take to evacuate the store.
"He said that he did not want to hurt anyone and told the guard he would give him five minutes to get everyone out.
"He told the guard he was going to put his car through the window."
The guard tried to clear the store while other staff looked for Caton.
She said: "Then witnesses heard a loud bang from the checkout area caused by Caton driving into the window.
"Caton then reversed about 8ft away before shunting forward again. This time he drove into the window at speed, shattering it before colliding with the check outs.
Peter Asteris, defending, said Caton's anger was directed at Tesco adding: "He simply snapped."
Speaking earlier at the couple's semi-detached home, Caton's wife Deborah insisted her husband had a right to be angry at Tesco's customer service.
The 43-year-old, who has been married to Mr Caton for 17 years, said: "I am standing by Robert - he had a genuine complaint with Tesco.
"We had ordered a wardrobe, a chest of drawers and a double bed from Tesco Direct but when they delivered the bed it did not include a mattress which we thought we had paid for.
"Robert went down to see the manager of the Tesco store in Andover. He got annoyed and drove the car through the shop window."
A Tesco worker said it was 'incredible' no one had been seriously injured or killed in the incident.
The woman said: "People were terrified. They were running for their lives, scrambling out of the way and scattering in all directions.
"From where I was in the store I thought a bomb had gone off - it sounded like a massive explosion."
The Rolls Royce shunted check outs 27 and 28 about 10ft towards the biscuits and confectionary aisle - aisle number 11.
Motorist drove Rolls Royce into Tesco after row over mattress - Telegraph
