Customer threatened Nairn shop assistant, Inverness court hears
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A drunk man threatened to throw a bottle of beer at a Nairn supermarket sales assistant after she refused to sell him the alcohol.
The woman had been approached in the town's Co-op by Gary Mackay (38), now living in Cordon House, Union Street, Inverness, on the night of February 21 last year.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard that Mackay had been in the supermarket several times earlier and was intoxicated when he appeared again at the check-out to buy the beer.
Fiscal depute Naomi Duffy-Welsh said: "He began shouting and swearing at her and demanded the bottle. She asked why and he said he was going to throw it at her.
"He then selected another bottle and returned, saying he wished to throw the bottle. Police were called but before they arrived, he became apologetic, said it was the alcohol and left the store."
Defending, Duncan Henderson conceded it was "a frightening incident for those concerned but at least he showed remorse and was apologetic.
"He has developed a drug and alcohol problem and needs help."
Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald placed Mackay, who admitted an offence under the Protection of Retail Workers Act, on a drug treatment and testing order for the next six months but set an early review for March 22.
She told him: "Treating shop workers like this is appalling and childish. But I understand that you want to stop behaving like this."
