A JUDGE has warned shopkeepers not to take the law into their own hands after hearing how a Turkish teenager had armed himself with a baseball bat following a fracas in his father's shop.

Bournemouth University student Veli Bulbul admitted possessing an offensive weapon on February 20 this year.

Prosecuting at Bournemouth Crown Court, Angela England said Bulbul had been working in the newsagent in Windham Road, Bournemouth, when trouble flared.

After a youth handed over a fake £20 note and made racist remarks, Bulbul refused to give the money back and waved the bat at him.

Miss England added: "The youth said he would return with others and cause damage to the shop. The defendant called his cousin and told him of the threats.

"They decided to take the baseball bat and go out and look for the complainant."

The court heard Bulbul swung the bat at the youth, striking him on the hip. Bulbul later handed the bat to the police.

Defending, Tim Bradbury described his client as "a man of exemplary character" and a "high achieving and serious student".

He said: "This was an ugly incident in which he was threatening these youths in the street.

"Mr Bulbul was looking after his parents' shop. He was on his own when a young man came in and bought drinks with a counterfeit £20 note.

"Mr Bulbul retained the note, explaining that he would give it to the police.

"This was not received well by the young man, who became abusive. There were threats to smash the shop up.

"In real fear, he resorted to picking up the bat and threatening them with it to get them out of the shop.

"He made a bad decision.

"Rather than phoning the police he phoned his cousin."

Imposing a 12-month community order with the condition that Bulbul, of Windham Road, carries out 180 hours' unpaid work, Judge Roger Jarvis told him: "No matter how vulnerable shopkeepers feel, they must not take the law into their own hands."

Bulbul was ordered to pay £475 prosecution costs.