Man fined £1000 for drunken rampage in shop

Published on Monday 3 November 2008 08:56

A MAN who went on a drunken rampage in an Edinburgh store has been fined £1000 and ordered to pay £500 in compensation.

Marc Henderson, of Halmyre Street, had pleaded guilty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court previously to committing a breach of the peace in the Scotmid store in Leith Walk on August 16 this year and to assaulting shop assistant, Najam Syed.

Sentence had been deferred until today for background reports.

Fiscal Depute, Malcolm Stewart, said Henderson, aged 35, had obviously been drinking for several hours and joined the queue waiting to be served by Mr Syed at 5.30pm.

He became very impatient and, in an argument over a packet of cigarettes, lost his temper and knocked another customer's groceries onto the floor.

He then began shouting and swearing, jumped onto the counter and threatened to assault the assistant.

Mr Syed tried to get away, but Henderson chased him round the counter and pushed him backwards into a pile of plastic packing cases. Mr Syed's right hand was injured in the fall, but he declined medical attention.

Another member of staff contacted the police and witnesses pointed out Henderson, who was standing at a nearby pub. When interviewed by the officers, Henderson said: "I apologise. I was being stupid".

Defence agent, Fergus Christie, agreed it must have been a very upsetting incident for everyone in the store. Henderson, he added, was appalled by his behaviour.

Fining Henderson, Sheriff Derrick McIntyre pointed out that Henderson had a previous conviction for assault. Henderson was given two months to pay the money.