Assaulting a security guard and entering a Hamilton grocery store armed with a hatchet earned a man a three-year prison sentence yesterday.

Jerry Troy Williams, 42, of Derwent Lane, Devonshire, pleaded guilty yesterday in Magistrates? Court to charges of unlawful wounding, having in his possession an article with a bladed point and being armed in a public place.

The offences were committed on March 25. The court heard that on that date security guard Richard Judge heard cries coming from a car in the Hamilton Market Place?s underground parking lot.

He approached the car and found a five-year-old boy inside. The boy told him that his father (Williams) was upstairs shopping.

Mr. Judge took the boy upstairs to the manager?s office where Williams came to collect him. Williams appeared upset that the boy had been removed from the vehicle, the court heard.

He took his son back downstairs to the car and Mr. Judge followed.

Williams then punched the security guard, who needed five stitches across his eyebrow as a result of the injuries.

Williams got into his car and drove to the front of the store and then re-entered the Market Place with a hatchet. ?Where?s is the f***er?? he asked.

The store manager and an employee locked themselves in an office until the Police came. Officers then arrested Williams and seized the weapon.

Williams admitted to hitting the security guard but told the court that he was acting in self-defence.

He also apologised to the court.

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo sentenced him 15 months for unlawful wounding and three years for possession of a bladed weapon.

The sentences will run concurrently.