London, Oct 12 (Agencies): Caught stealing Dairy Milk chocolate bars, a shoplifter in Nottingham, UK, smashed a £19 bottle of whiskey on the owner, Gurpal Singh’s head

A 42-year-old Sikh shopkeeper in the UK was hit on the head with a bottle of whiskey by a thug, but was saved by his turban.

Gurpal Singh said that the turban protected his skull as a £19 (Rs 1,900) bottle of Jameson Irish whiskey shattered over his head.

“I had my turban on and that saved me from more damage when the bottle broke. I would have been cut without it and I prayed in thanks after,” he said.

The bottle was wielded by shoplifter Ronald Richardson, who was given a suspended jail term on Friday for the attack.

Singh, who is the owner of the Family Shopper store in The Meadows, needed treatment in hospital after being hit on the side of his head. He was left with bruises and a bump.

Richardson had paid for the 70cl bottle of whiskey but when staff spotted Dairy Milk chocolate bars stuffed in his bag, Singh asked him to pay £7 (R700) for them.

A 16-week prison term, suspended for a year, was imposed on the 49-year-old accused. He admitted to threatening and assaulting Singh.

He was asked to pay Singh compensation of £200 (Rs 19,800).