May 18, 2020 3.18 pm This story is over 46 months old

‘I don’t care about social distancing’, says man before abusing Lincoln shop staff

He will appear in court in July

Stock image of customers waiting outside the Lincolnshire Co-op store on Sincil Street. Photo: The Lincolnite

A 44-year-old Lincoln man has been charged after a shop worker and security officer at a Lincolnshire Co-op store were allegedly subjected to verbal and physical abuse.

The incident happened at the store on Sincil Street at around 5.23pm on May 12.

Lincolnshire Police said that the accused blocked the doorway to the store and commented about how he didn’t care about social distancing when asked to keep two metres away from the staff and other customers.

The man has since been named as Ian Barwick, of Coleridge Gardens in Lincoln, who is said to have threatened violence to security staff and attempted to assault them before leaving the area.

Barwick was arrested over the weekend before being charged with using threatening words and abusive behaviour towards staff. He is due to appear at Lincoln Magistrates Court on July 1.

Lincoln Centre Police said: “Times like these are difficult enough for shop staff as it is. They shouldn’t have to face this abuse at the best of times and we will relentlessly pursue prosecution of offenders for such offences.”