Teenager brandished axe in village shop Inverness Sheriff Court told

A teenager who had been ejected from an Inverness-shire shop after an altercation with staff, returned a short time later with an axe Inverness Sheriff Court heard.

Ossian Maclellan (18) of Stuart Avenue, Ardersier, appeared for sentence today after earlier admitting abusive and threatening behaviour at the Spar in the village last January 26.

His not guilty plea to possession of cocaine and cannabis was accepted by the prosecution.

Fiscal depute Sharon Ralph told Sheriff Sara Matheson that MacLellan brandished the hatchet style axe but did not direct threats to any of the staff.

He realised he would be caught on security cameras, left the shop and waited outside for the police to arrive.

Defence solicitor Willie Young said on the day in question Maclellan was under the influence of substances, but he does remember an altercation in the shop involving him being accused of attempting to steal of a woman's handbag.

Mr Young said: "He was manhandled from the premises but returned to the shop as described. He very much regrets acting in this manner in the heat of the moment. He is genuinely contrite."

He asked Sheriff Matheson if Maclellan could be given a chance to show he can stay out of further trouble and added: "This experience with the police and the courts has been a fairly salutary one for him."

Sheriff Matheson told Maclellan: "This is a serious matter, having an axe and approaching the Spar in Ardersier," but she added that he was still a young man who was "a clever individual with the potential to do better."

She sentenced him to 135 hours of unpaid work, reduced from 150 because of his early guilty plea.

Maclellan admitted acting in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause fear and alarm and shouted, swore and brandished an axe.