A FATHER-TO-BE who went on a "rampage" at a petrol station after allegedly asking the male cashier to perform a sex act on him, has been jailed.

Terrance Powell, of David Williams Terrace, Port Tennant, was drunk when he trashed the shop premises of Burrows Garage in Fabian Way at 11.10pm on March 9.

Swansea Magistrates' Court heard he hurled a brick, a Calor Gas bottle and firewood through the store's windows.

The 24-year-old also repeatedly punched cashier David Warlow before fleeing the scene.

At an earlier hearing the court heard that after Powell's arrest, he claimed the cashier had "come on to him" and said he "hated gays".

But Mark Davies, defending at the sentencing hearing, said Powell "strongly denied" making any sexual advances towards the victim and pleaded guilty on the basis "there were no homophobic undertones".

District Judge Richard Williams, who described Powell's behaviour as "something clearly approaching meltdown", said: "The complainant's take on this seems to be that your client was making advances on him, and it was the consequences of an apparent rejection from him that he became violent."

At a previous hearing, prosecutor Lisa Jones said Powell wanted to buy cider at the store, but couldn't because it was after the time when the garage could legally sell alcohol.

Mrs Jones said Powell then asked Mr Warlow for a kiss and "grabbed his own genitals over his jeans". She said he went into the toilet and asked Mr Warlow to perform a sex act on him.

The court heard that when other customers entered the shop Powell left, but later returned and made further sexual advances, before attacking him.

When Mr Warlow pushed him out of the shop, Powell kicked out at a window and hurled objects through the glass.

Powell admitted causing criminal damage, common assault and using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.

Judge Williams, sentencing, said: "The lead-up to this offence is insignificant compared to what happened once you began.

"You went into something clearly approaching meltdown.

"You attacked the cashier and attacked the property in which he was working.

"You created a scene of violence and damage which would have been terrifying to anyone in these premises or who had witnessed it."

Magistrates jailed Powell for 112 days and made him subject to a restraining order so as not to contact Mr Warlow directly or indirectly, or enter Burrows Garage for three years.

julia.bosnyak@swwmedia.co.uk