A FOUL-mouthed pharmacist who attacked a prosecutor with an iron bar after being struck off was warned that prison was inevitable.

Samuel Ashby, 61, who used to work in Weymouth at the St John's Pharmacy in Crescent Street, had been summoned to a Royal Pharmaceutical Society disciplinary hearing for behaving aggressively towards staff, insulting customers and making dispensing errors.

After hearing details of his behaviour it was decided he was no longer fit to practise.

Inner London Crown Court heard that seconds later the chemist ''blew his cool'', pulled out a 12-inch bolt, vaulted on to a table and launched himself at Desmond Fitzpatrick, a 47-year-old barrister who had helped bring the case against him.

He repeatedly lashed out with the potentially lethal weapon, striking his shocked victim's head and causing a five-inch long scalp wound which later needed seven stitches.

Ashby from Inglesby near Grantham, Lincolnshire, was subdued by a journalist and Society officials and later pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm on October 25 last year.

The disciplinary hearing had found Ashby guilty of assaulting a colleague, stealing medicine, making a string of dispensing errors and dishing out heroin substitute methadone to addicts who did not have prescriptions.

He had told colleagues "shut up" then labelled female colleagues a "stupid bitch" and an "arrogant cow" in front of shocked customers while manager of St Johns in November 2002.

Judge Quentin Campbell remanded Ashby in custody and said he did not accept Ashby's explanation that he carried the bolt to protect him against muggers.

He added: "I am afraid the court, having read the psychiatrist's report, considers you pose a substantial risk (to the public).

''I have no doubt whatsoever I will be imposing a sentence of imprisonment in this case. It is merely a question of whether it will be an extended one.''