A CHOCOLATE shop owner has been given 12 months' probation for using threatening behaviour which stemmed from his resentment of a former employee, a court heard.

Brian Hookham, who was the proprietor of Thornton's in Ulverston, was angry at ex-employee Danielle Butler for opening a competing store close by.

The court was told that Mrs Butler had taken over the Thornton's franchise and a new lease on different premises after Mr Hookham lost the franchise.

That caused him a considerable amount of resentment.

Furness magistrates heard he became abusive about Mrs Butler when saleswoman Nicola Moss mistakenly visited his shop to see her on August 23, 2000.

Ms Moss fled after Hookham grabbed what she thought was a screwdriver and stabbed his shop counter.

Two months later Hookham, 42, of Soutergate, Ulverston, went to Mrs Butler's new Thornton's outlet and shouted abuse at her from outside.

Hookham pleaded guilty to two charges of disorderly behaviour.

However, in mitigation, Graham Jackson maintained Hookham had wielded an ice-cream scoop in his shop, not a screwdriver.

Mr Jackson also said Hookham was receiving treatment for medical problems and had sought help from Ulverston MIND.

Hookham also admitted causing criminal damage to a glass screen at Ulverston police station which he smashed with his fist.

Magistrates accepted no other incidents had happened since, and that Hookham had paid for the glass screen to be replaced.

He was ordered to pay £80 court costs.