Inverness teenager attacked supermarket worker in Highland assault

An Inverness teenager attacked a supermarket staff member with a broken bottle after a suspected shoplifter was stopped from leaving the store.

The incident happened in the Tesco premises in Tomnahurich Street, Inverness on November 9 last year, Inverness Sheriff Court was told.

Fiscal depute Robert Weir told Sheriff Margaret Neilson that the store manager had been advised of suspicious individuals being in the supermarket and one girl was stopped trying to exit with goods without paying.

That was when the 16 year old youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, intervened. He admitted two charges of threatening or abusive behaviour and one of assault, committed while he was on three bail orders.

Mr Weir told the court: "He picked up a broken bottle and said: 'let go of her or I will stab you.' Then he threw the bottle, hitting the staff member on the shoulder before running off."

The police were informed and at 9.40pm that night, the youngster was traced to his home.

Mr Weir said he began shouting and swearing and making threats to police. "He asked his mother to fetch a knife so he could stab the police." Mr Weir went on.

The boy's solicitor, Ruth Panton said her client was "very vulnerable" and had been on remand in a Young Offender's Institution since the offence, "now serving the equivalent of an eight month sentence."

She said he was being bullied there as he was one of the youngest and asked Sheriff Neilson for his release on bail.

But this was refused by the Sheriff who deferred sentence until April 7 for a background report.