A man hid a bottle of ginger wine beneath his coat then swung for a security guard, the magistrates heard.

Michal Fornalczyk, 35, denied the allegations he’d tried to steal the alcohol from the St Aldates Sainsbury’s store then beaten the guard on January 12 this year.

He failed to turn up to his trial at the start of April, when he was found guilty in his absence.

READ MORE: Scales of Justice: Latest from Oxford Magistrates' Court

Appearing before Oxford Magistrates’ Court on Saturday morning, having handed himself in to police on Thursday when his probation officer told him of the outstanding warrant, Fornalczyk asked through his solicitor for the case to be reopened and a new trial date fixed.

He said he’d been moved to a new hotel by the council and had not received paperwork with the April 1 trial date.

The magistrates refused the request to reopen the case after hearing that Fornalczyk was in court in January when the date was set.

The court heard that Fornalczyk went into the Sainsbury’s Local store on St Aldates, Oxford, at 10am on January 12. He was seen by a security guard to pick up a bottle of ginger wine and approach the main doors with the alcohol in his jacket pocket.

The guard intercepted him and the pair argued as the staff member tried to get the wine. Fornalczyk slapped the officer in the face.

Fornalczyk, of Cowley Road, Oxford, was fined £50, ordered to pay £50 compensation and must pay £100 in costs.

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