A TEENAGER who attacked a mentally ill man in front of shocked bank customers, including young children, has been jailed for 18 months.

Warren Fenty lost his cool after cross words with the other customer, who was later sectioned under the Mental Health Act, at lunchtime.

As the 19-year-old's mum was ushering him out of the Trowbridge HSBC he slipped past her and ran at the other man.

During the shocking scuffle, caught on the branch's CCTV, he picked up an elderly man's walking stick and wielded it at the other man.

After leaving the Fore Street bank he was arrested coming back while armed with a lock knife, assaulting a policeman in the struggle.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court on Monday (Aug 1) how the incident took place in the middle of the day on March 29.

Although the security footage showed Fenty had his back to the other man, who was at the next cashier's window, clearly words had been spoken, he said.

Fenty's mum was taking him away from the counter and out to the street when he turned and ran at the other man, as a toddler and other children played nearby.

In the following melee he threw numerous punches, two of which struck a woman and one an elderly man, who were also in the banking hall.

Mr Meeke said one woman was punched twice and an elderly man twice as they tried to calm the violence.

The CCTV showed Fenty grabbing and wielding the brass handled walking stick before he was bundled out by another customer.

Minutes later he was walking back towards the bank when he saw police, who had been called, and assaulted an officer as he tried to get away.

When he was searched he was found to have a lock knife in his pocket, which he said he had picked up after a friend had hidden it nearby weeks earlier.

Fenty, of Blackthorn Way, Staverton, pleaded guilty to affray, assault and possessing a knife in a public place.

Cathy Thornton, defending, said he had gone to the bank with his mum to get a new debit card when an issue developed between him and the other man.

She said he was annoyed at the way the other man had spoken to his mum and wanted to let him know.

He got the knife and returned as he wanted to ensure his mum was safe, she said, and never got it out.

She said he had done well at school, was now working at Cooper Tires and urged the judge not to jail him.

Passing sentence Recorder Malcolm Gibney said: "Miss Thornton urges upon me that you are polite, respectful and remorseful.

"You were everything but on March 29 this year when in the Trowbridge branch of HSBC attacking another man: a man who it turns out has mental health problems, in circumstances where you may have been verbally provoked.

"It is clear from the CCTV footage you were the aggressor. Despite the best efforts of your mother to leave the bank you forced your way past her, went back, and challenged the other gentleman."