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HMV Inverness targeted by shoplifter who also abused retail and bar staff in array of offences





HMV in Eastgate Shopping Centre.
HMV in Eastgate Shopping Centre.

A 50-year-old Inverness man who abused retail and bar staff as well as police was described by a sheriff as "a complete menace when drunk".

But Sheriff Gary Aitken stopped short of jailing John Mackay, of Tomnahurich Street, when he appeared from remand to be sentenced on a multitude of offences.

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Inverness Sheriff Court had been told that Mackay was "always remorseful when sober" and his lawyer Samantha Morrison said her client "wanted to change".

Mackay admitted stealing CDs and DVDs from the HMV premises in the Eastgate Shopping Centre on April 11 and April 12. The value totalled £149.85 and nothing was recovered.

He also pleaded guilty to behaving aggressively towards staff at the CEX shop and Poundland in the High Street on March 16 and April 14 after asking for carrier bags and being refused. Mackay had previously been barred from Poundland.

Fiscal depute David Morton said that Mackay would then shout, swear and threaten the employees with violence before displaying similar behaviour in Jimmy Badger's and the Mercure Hotel Bar in Inverness on November 24, 2024.

Mr Morton added: "He was refused service in the hotel, began kicking a chair and spitting at staff but he didn't make contact. Hotel staff ushered him out of the premises and locked the door. He attempted to come back in and continued to spit.

"Police were called to apprehend him and he resisted arrest, making offensive and sexualised comments towards officers and threatening them and their families. He also spat inside the cell of the police van."

The court heard that Mackay then went into the Tesco Metro store in Tomnahurich Street on December 12 last year while cleaning staff were in the alcohol aisle.

Mr Morton went on: "They indicated he was required to leave, he swore at them and smashed some of the bottles on the floor, refusing to leave.

"Then he broke the top off one bottle, drank some of it and spat the contents on the floor. Police were called. He had been on bail not to enter Tesco."

In total, Mackay admitted five charges of behaving aggressively towards shop and bar staff, three of threatening behaviour, two of shoplifting and one of breaching his bail.

Ms Morrison said: “He’s extremely remorseful and appalled at his behaviour, in particular his language to female employees.”

Sheriff Aitken decided to place Mackay under 18 months of social work supervision and ordered him to get alcohol treatment.

However he warned him: "If you breach this order, you will go straight back to jail."

The sheriff added that Mackay had "a persistent habit of targeting shop staff. There is no excuse for it. It needs to stop. When drunk, you are a complete menace."


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