Tottenham Hotspur's former record signing Chris Armstrong is facing jail after trashing his local Tesco store and punching a worker to the floor after he was told he could not buy cigarettes.
Former £4.5million transfer Armstrong, 50, ran amok at the supermarket in Fulham Road, Chelsea, when he was told the shop was shut at 2.15am on July 18.
The former Spurs and Palace frontman caused £2,000 of damage when he kicked over security scanners and punched Alex Boatang.
Dreadlocked Armstrong appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court today smartly dressed in a black suit and tie.
He admitted common assault and criminal damage.
Prosecutor Nathan Fuller said: 'Officers were called to Tesco because of a report of an aggressive and violent man smashing up the store.
'He gained access to the store by forcing his way through the door demanding cigarettes.
'The store was temporarily closed because the staff were taking a break.
'When he was told he couldn't buy cigarettes he became aggressive.'
Armstrong kicked over security scanners, a stand of baskets and damaged other property in the store.
Mr Boatang then tried to confront Armstrong, telling him to stop.
But Armstrong 'turned and punched the worker in the face with a closed fist,' said Mr Fuller.
Mr Boatang fell to the floor and was kicked in the shin by the former footballer.
The store worker suffered injuries including a grazed leg and was taken to hospital to be checked over.
Armstrong fled the scene but he was detained by officers a shortly afterwards.
McKenzie Webster, defending, described the incident was an 'impulsive and short-lived assault'.
She said he did not realise the shop was closed but there was a problem with the locking mechanism so the doors were partially open.
Armstrong knows the shop well and has been purchasing cigarettes there for 14 years, she said.
Chair of the bench Alan Elias ordered probation reports but warned: 'We do think the community order threshold has been passed'.
Armstrong, who lives in Chelsea, was granted bail ahead of sentence at Westminster Magistrates' Court on March 1.
Born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne he started his career at Wrexham in 1989 and played for Millwall before joining Crystal Palace.
After netting 45 times for the Eagles he became Spurs' most expensive signing at the time when he joined for £4.5m in 1995.
He earned an England call-up under Kevin Keegan but only played one 'B' international and ended his career back at Wrexham in 2005.
Armstrong became the first-ever Premier League player to fail a drug test after testing positive for cannabis in March 1995.
He was convicted of possessing cocaine, cannabis and ecstasy at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court and fined £375 in September 2016.