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An Isle of Wight man who threatened to kill five Day Lewis staff members has been ordered to pay each of them £200 in compensation. 

Sixty-year-old Allan Pearce pleaded guilty at the Isle of Wight magistrates’ court on April 17 to five counts of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress.  

Mr Pearce visited the Newport branch of Day Lewis at around 5.30pm on December 30, 2025, having been redirected there from a Boots store.

He found the pharmacy closed and the lights turned off with staff members still inside the premises.

Mr Pearce is reported to have kicked and banged on the doors, calling out threats to the staff including “I’ll kill you for fun” and “I’ll hunt your family down”.

The affected staff members said they felt unsafe and worried that Mr Pearce might beat down the door. 

Mr Pearce was arrested, telling the police he had had “a lot of alcohol that day”. He had appeared in court seven days earlier on a shoplifting charge, and was subject to a community order relating to a previous assault offence. 

Defence lawyer Michael McGoldrick said his client, who he described as suffering from psychosis and physical disabilities, was “genuinely remorseful” for his “out of order” behaviour.

Magistrates said there was “no excuse” for Mr Pearce’s behaviour, adding that they had considered imposing a prison sentence but decided he 

In addition to being told to pay compensation to the Day Lewis staff, Mr Pearce received a 30-month community order including a requirement to complete 30 days’ rehabilitation activity and a 20-month alcohol treatment requirement.