Dingwall chip shop attack filmed by customer after ‘beast’ jibe

An ex-prisoner who had just been freed from spending 15 months on remand awaiting trial attacked a chip shop assistant when he was refused cheese sauce with his purchase because he didn't have enough money.

But 41-year-old Charles MacLennan, of Mart Road, Dingwall, became violent when he heard someone in Renato's premises on the town's High Street call him "a beast", despite him being acquitted on Friday by a jury of alleged serious offences.

He threw items at the shop worker, vaulted the counter, punched the man in the eye and head-butted him, leaving him bruised and bloodied, fiscal depute Shay Traynor told Sheriff David Harvie.

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The incident happened on Sunday afternoon, was filmed by a customer and posted on social media.

Mr Traynor said: "He appeared to be intoxicated in the shop. When he ordered chips and cheese sauce, he was told he did not have enough money and his behaviour escalated. He got on the counter and began throwing items.

“When the member of staff grabbed him by the shoulders to stop him, he was punched and head-butted. Police were called and he was traced to a nearby car park and arrested.

“Officers described his behaviour as highly volatile and erratic and he made various threats to them, including 'I am slashing you, you little rat', ‘You are dead when I get out of this van', ‘I am innocent', ‘I am smashing your face in' and 'I am murdering you.'

"His comments included references to an officer being 'lesbian',” Mr Traynor added.

Defending, Myhrin Hill told the court: "He was released from custody on Friday after being remanded awaiting trial for 15 months and he says his mental health has been affected. He was subsequently acquitted.

"Someone made a comment to him about the charges against him and called him 'a beast'. A background report may be useful although he has served prison sentences before."

Sheriff Harvie told the lawyer: "I can defer sentence for a report but he will be remanded in custody or does he want a jail sentence today?"

This prompted an outburst by MacLennan, who was surrounded in the dock by prisoner escort staff. He shouted: "I am not sitting on remand. It does my f...ing skull in. Give me a sentence. He (the Sheriff) seems hell-bent on sending me to jail anyway."

After a brief consultation with Ms Hill, MacLennan relented and told the solicitor he would wait three weeks on remand for the background report to be prepared. MacLennan had admitted two charges of threatening and abusive behaviour and one of assault to injury.

Sentence was deferred until March 27 for the report and he was again remanded in custody.

He continued to rant as he was led away.