Armed thugs who glassed a shopkeeper and spat in a woman’s face in a busy street have avoided prison.

Binge-drinking Tyrone Philpott waved a saw around shouting “who is going to take me on? I’m Tyrone Philpott,” as bystanders fled in Margate.

The 27-year-old made lurid remarks towards a woman while clutching his crotch. When she was unfazed he brandished his belt and spat in her face.

His accomplice Lewis Jameson, 22, then smashed a bottle over a shopkeeper’s head as he rushed to the woman’s aid.

Philpott could be heard shouting “I’m Tyrone Philpott, don’t you forget it” moments before the duo ran away.

The attacks would usually result in both thugs “going into custody”, the court heard.

But delays in the justice system and the state of Kent’s beleaguered prisons prompted a judge to suspend their tariffs.

Victim Paul Taylor suffered a wound to the back of his head, which required surgical glue, and cuts to his ear.

Samantha Hawkesford, who was returning from work alone, told the court the attack exacerbated her anxiety.

Following a two-day drinking binge Philpott armed himself with a saw and Jameson a glass bottle, as the pair rampaged down Northdown Road, Margate, at 10am in May 2019.

Pedestrians could be seen fleeing as Philpott waved the weapon around his head screaming threats in the street.

“Philpott ran across the road and spat directly in Ms Hawksford’s face and said, ‘Wait there, I’ll get my mum to beat you up,’” prosecutor Craig Evans explained.

Vape shop worker Paul Taylor rushed to the woman’s defence then the thugs rounded on him.

Philpott kicked and punched Mr Taylor before Jameson slammed a bottle into his head. The pair then fled and hid the saw and belt beneath a car.

Miss Hawksford told the court she has “lost all confidence to leave the house” and suffered “anxiety when being outside.”

Philpott held his head in his hands, occasionally shaking his head as the evidence unfolded in court, while Jameson remained passive throughout the hearing.

Recorder David Brock said: “You two were together in a busy street in Margate, members of the public were almost running away from you as they saw you coming towards them.

“You, Mr Philpott decided to cross the road and spit in the face of Miss Hawksford.

“A shopkeeper came to her aid, Mr Philpott punched him first then you Jameson jumped in. You both walked away but you Jameson returned to Mr Taylor and struck him over the head with a bottle.

“You both then grappled and during the course of that fighting kicked him several times to the body and head.”

He explained witnesses overheard Philpott shouting “I’m Tyrone Philpott, don’t you forget it” before the pair fled.

They both gave no comment interviews after being arrested and pleaded guilty at an early opportunity.

“This would usually result in both of you going to prison but I have to have regard to all the circumstances of this case,” the judge added.

He explained the two-year delay in the case coming to court was no fault of the defendants and Covid-19 had significantly stretched the prison system.

Mitigating, Jameson’s lawyer Ruth Becker said her client suffers bi-polar, lives with his mum and is not in work.

She added he played a lesser role and “goes to join in”.

Philpott’s lawyer Maggie Biglou told the court he was on the tail end of a cocaine and booze binge at the time of assault, but has since abstained from the drugs.

She said Philpott is: "Shocked and disappointed with myself - disgusted in my behaviour.”

Jameson, of The Avenue in Hersden, Canterbury, pleaded guilty to wounding, affray and possessing an offensive weapon.

He was handed 18 months suspended for two years, five months curfew, 25 rehabilitation days and must pay £300 compensation.

Philpott, of Marlowe Road in Margate pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm, affray and possessing an offensive weapon.

He was handed 18 months suspended for two years, 100 hours of unpaid work, 20 rehabilitation days, five months curfew, and must pay £1,500 compensation.

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