A TEEN troublemaker picked up two boxes of beer from a store, ran off without paying and then punched the shopkeeper who chased him.

The 16-year-old from Gloucester told police who later arrested him that he could not remember anything about the incident because he was too drunk at the time.

He pleaded guilty to theft, assault and breaching an anti-social behaviour order when he appeared before Gloucester youth magistrates on Thursday.

Prosecuting solicitor Graham Dono said: "In July the defendant calmly walked into the shop, picked up two boxes of Budweiser beer and ran out. The storekeeper chased him and caught up with him in a nearby sports field.

"The youth turned and punched the storekeeper in the face, breaking the man's glasses.

"On June 24 police investigating an incident found the defendant underneath a hedge.

"He became abusive and aggressive, threatening to break an officer's jaw, and he had to be handcuffed.

"One of his Asbo conditions was not to behave abusively."

The court heard the theft happened in Beaumont Stores in Cheltenham.

The defendant told the court "I was out of order but I've got a problem with drink – about eight or nine cans most days."

Magistrates adjourned the case until September 23 and gave the teenager conditional bail.