A "joke" has spectacularly backfired on a puerile social media prankster, who humiliated a shop worker in front of customers.
Ricki Hughes, 41, of Runcorn, admitted an offence of intentionally causing harassment, alarm or distress when he recently appeared at Warrington Magistrates' Court.
This is an offence under section 4A of the Public Order Act 1986. It has a maximum sentence on summary conviction of 26 weeks' custody and/or an unlimited fine.
Magistrates' heard that Hughes attended the Go Outdoors store on Wilson Patten Street, Warrington, on the afternoon of Saturday, 4th January 2025.
He had with him a box, which contained a pair of shoes he claimed he wished to return. However, concealed alongside the shoes was a large flesh-toned dildo.
The complainant was called across the store to assist with Hughes' return. She initially thought he had "pranked" another customer, but then noticed that a second man was filming the interaction on his mobile phone.
It was then she realised that she had been the target of the joke. Hughes removed the dildo from the box and invited the distraught complainant to hold it, telling her "it's just a joke". He then took the dildo, held it up to his nose and started sniffing it.
By this stage the complainant was distraught. She was escorted from the shop floor in tears.
Hughes was later identified on CCTV and invited for a voluntary interview, in which police told him the stunt was "not big, not clever".
He was subsequently charged with the section 4A offence.
Magistrates' were of the view that Hughes' conduct was so disgraceful that only a custodial sentence was appropriate.
He was sentenced to 18 weeks' immediate custody and ordered to pay £154 surcharge and £85 towards prosecution costs.
PC Graham Davies, of Cheshire Police, said: "While Hughes may have seen this as just a prank, the store worker was not amused and was left traumatised by his actions.
"He attended the store intent on humiliating the victim to get some hits on a social media video.
"Thankfully, as a result of the statements provided by the victim and the work of the team here at Warrington, Hughes is now behind bars where he can reflect on his actions that day."
Again I doff my cap to Warrington colleagues. They don't take any nonsense there.
It must be the season for irritating content creators having their arses handed to them.
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