Drunk man, 56, asks girl, 14, to drink with him at Woodlands coffeeshop & throws chair at her after being rejected

A drunk 56-year-old man became angered after a 14-year-old girl he had harassed refused to drink with him.

In his anger, he threw a glass and a chair in her direction, leaving her frightened.

The incident

The incident occurred at about 7:10pm on Jul. 15, the girl's mother wrote in a Facebook post.

According to her, the family was dining at FoodHub @ Marsiling in Block 167 Woodlands Street 11 at dinner time.

As the woman and her husband stepped away from the table to order food for their two younger children, they left the girl, their eldest child, at a table in the meantime.

A moment later, an intoxicated man from the next table began harassing the girl and pressured her to drink beer with him, the post said.

When the girl waved her hand to decline, he suddenly grew hostile and hurled vulgarities at her, the mother recounted.

The mother also said that the man threw a glass and a chair in her daughter's direction as she moved away in fear.

When the girl's father returned to the table, the drunk man escalated the situation by hurling more vulgarities and challenging the girl's father to a "1-on-1 fight".

According to the mother, her daughter was unhurt but frightened.

"My daughter was left absolutely terrified. A 14-year-old child should be able to sit in a neighbourhood eatery without fearing for her physical safety, and families shouldn't have to deal with drunken brawlers," the post wrote.

It added that the coffeeshop's staff told the family that the man was a regular who had a history of creating scenes at the coffeeshop.

The girl's mother said that she has made a police report and has also written to the coffeeshop's management and the members of parliament to express her concerns.

Man charged in court

The man, identified as Xie Jianzhong (transliterated), was charged in court for criminal intimidation, according to Shin Min Daily News.

He was later seen being questioned and subsequently arrested by police officers.

Xie was granted bail of S$5,000, Shin Min reported.

The case has been adjourned to Jul. 31.

For criminal intimidation, he may face up to 10 years' imprisonment, a fine, or both.