Inverness man launched the unprovoked attack on shop staff
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A CLEANER in a city shop was punched on the head by a man under the influence of drink.
Neil Macdonald (29) of Benula Road, Inverness, launched the unprovoked attack at the Co-op store in the city’s Telford Street on November 26 last year.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard his victim had been busy cleaning in an aisle at the shop when he was approached by Macdonald, who smelled strongly of alcohol at the time.
Macdonald punched the man on both sides of his head and left the scene immediately afterwards.
The court also heard details of a separate incident involving Macdonald where he punched a shop assistant at the Black Park filling station in Clachnaharry on September 30 last year.
In that incident he also threatened to throw a bottle of wine at his victim – then stole the bottle of wine as well as a quantity of tobacco, after it transpired while he was at the counter that he did not have enough money to pay for them.
Depute fiscal David Morton said Macdonald had lifted the bottle of wine above his head within the shop, but did not actually throw it.
He was seen leaving the scene in a vehicle.
Macdonald had previously admitted both charges of assault and one of theft against him.
Sentence had been deferred for social work background reports and last week , as he appeared for sentence, defence agent Duncan Henderson stressed that his client had not been the driver of the vehicle that took him from the filling station.
The offences, he said, were all committed when Macdonald was considerably under the influence of drink and he recognised that he had issues with alcohol.
Since his release from his last prison term, Mr Henderson said, Macdonald was trying to handle his drinking problem.
Sheriff Fleetwood placed him on two years supervision with a condition that he receives alcohol counselling.
He also ordered him to carry out 130 hours of unpaid work in the community, as a direct alternative to custody.
