A BRAVE restaurant owner who faced a thug wielding an iron bar has spoken of her trauma caused by the incident.

Simon Ronald Beynon, 38, of Elm Court, South Street, has narrowly avoided jail after using threatening and abusive behaviour while possessing a bar in the Shahi Raj on September 21.

Shahi Raj owner Rahela Khanom said despite her initial calmness during the incident she was left shaken afterwards.

“I was shaking for about a week, I went to Andover Mind to see if I could talk to someone about how I was feeling.

“This is the first time something like this has happened to me.”

The 4ft 11in mother-of-four said that Benyon had entered her restaurant in an agitated state and asked if he could use the toilet before re-emerging with an iron bar.

“He went straight into the kitchen,” she said “It was like he was looking for someone.”

After trying to calm the man down Mrs Khanom said she eventually went out into the street to call for help.

“I didn’t know what he was doing up there.” she added.

“He went behind the bar and I thought he could be emptying my till.

“I was calling for help in the street, but I was breathless.”

On hearing her pleas for help former soldier Paul Thomas, 40, said he saw Benyon running past being chased by a restaurant worker who was accusing him of trying to steal from the till.

The father-of-three set off after him and chased him towards Andover Police Station where Benyon was restrained by officers.

Beynon pleaded guilty to the offence and was sentenced by magistrates last week. He was given a sixweek jail term, suspended for 18 months, and given a restraining order not to enter the restaurant until May 2017. He must pay £75 compensation and charges and costs totalling £270.

Beynon admitted resisting a police officer on the same day, for which he must pay £150 compensation.