A teenager who attacked shop staff told magistrates he had an alcohol problem.

The 14-year-old from Lancing punched a man after pushing around tables at a cafe and, while on bail for the offence, threatened a sport shop assistant with a beer bottle.

At a Worthing Youth Court hearing, the teenager, who cannot be named, admitted threatening behaviour, intimidating witnesses and assault by beating.

Peter Lytle, prosecuting, said the teenager and three others had gone into Caffe Nero, Worthing, on December 14 and were asked to leave by staff after they were "verbally aggressive".

Reading from a witness statement, Mr Lytle said: "The defendant, being the loudest of the four, walked outside where there were chairs and tables.

"He took hold of a table and slid it up the pavement.

"(A member of staff) approached the defendant, there was some conversation and the defendant said: 'Do you want a fight? Come on then?'"

The teenager tried to punch the staff member but the man blocked the blows until he was surrounded by the other three teenagers, who shouted: "Gang beating".

As he turned to face them, the 14-year-old punched him in the left eye.

Mr Lytle said the teenager went into JJB Sports, in Montague Street, Worthing, with a friend and kicked a football inside the store on January 2.

When staff tried to escort him out of the store he became aggressive and tried to punch an off-duty police office who had intervened.

The teenager was taken to an office inside the store where he started threatening staff and the officer with a beer bottle.

Having been arrested and released on bail, the teenager returned to the store the next day and intimidated a female shop assistant.

Mr Lytle said the teenager had 12 previous convictions for a variety of charges, including attempted theft, criminal damage and resisting a police officer.

Matthew Baines, in mitigation, said his client's offences were committed when he was drinking alcohol and the teenager recognised he had a drinking problem.

At the hearing on Thursday, magistrates released the teenager on conditional bail until January 23 for pre-sentence reports to be made.

He was also given a curfew order from 8pm to 8am.