A Tesco yob threatened to hurt a staff member’s family after he fell under suspicion of trying to steal from a store in Scotland.
Graeme Gates from Muir of Ord had previously been on remand since the start of October after being arrested for a number of offences that had been committed just two days prior.
After he was challenged by staff at the store in Dingwall, he lunged at the employees in an attempt to instigate a fight, Inverness Sheriff Court heard.
He then went on to knock over a man in Peffery Park and kicked and struck him repeatedly.
A Tesco yob threatened to hurt a staff member’s family after the man was suspected of trying to steal from the Scottish store
Google Street View
Upon his arrest, he spat on one police officer, and spat saliva and blood on another officer, hitting her arm.
In defence, Graham Mann told Sheriff Sara Matheson: “He has reached the stage where reports would not be necessary. But he is likely to be accepted into rehab facilities.”
In court, Gates admitted theft and threatening behaviour in addition to three charges of assault.
His sentence was deferred until February 20 but the judge remanded him in custody.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
This case followed another case at the same Tesco several years ago, which led to a man being jailed after a heated exchange between him and the staff.
As a result, Cornelius Stevenson (36) appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court from custody via video link.
The threatening behaviour occurred around 9pm in the store along Mart Road, according to fiscal depute Emma MacEwan.
When the security alarm went off as Stevenson attempted to leave the shop, staff asked him about the items in his bag, which led him to become aggressive, the court heard.
After Gates was challenged by staff, he lunged at the employees in an attempt to instigate a fight, Inverness Sheriff Court heard
Google Street View
He told employees to “get the f*****g police” and said to one person “I’m going to burst you” and “I’m going to bomb your houses”.
The prosecutor added that the offender then got “into their personal space”.
Sheriff Gary Aitken subsequently imposed a fine of £1,000 on Stevenson, given no time to pay.
He was offered the option of 28 days in prison if he was unable to pay.
