Inverness shop worker hit on head with bottle of alcohol
A supermarket store employee was hit over the head with one of two bottles of alcohol after he suspected a man of trying to steal them.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard that Paul Connor (41) of Knocknagael, had gone into the Spar shop in Culduthel Road, Inverness on Monday, April 22 about 3pm and picked up two bottles of whisky.
Fiscal depute David Morton told Sheriff David Harvie that the member of staff feared that Connor was going to walk out without paying and he asked him to return them to the shelf.
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"Paul Connor took exception to this and a struggle ensued,” he said. “The accused still had both bottles in his hands and the member of staff grabbed both his arms as Paul Connor attempted to strike him with them.
"But at one point he broke one arm free and the member of staff was struck on the back of the head with one of the bottles. It did not smash.
"Other staff came to assist and the police were called."
Defence solicitor Graham Mann said his client expected to be jailed.
"It is fortunate that no-one else was hurt,” he said. “His condition at the time was poor and he has drug and alcohol issues.
"He is currently on two community payback orders but has not made much progress."
Sheriff Harvie told Connor who admitted assault that there was no alternative to a custodial sentence and jailed him for four months.
