A drunken visit to an Arbroath chip shop led to what must be one of the most expensive fish suppers ever, Arbroath Sheriff Court heard yesterday.

Tony Bolton’s self-proclaimed “outrageous behaviour” ended up costing him the grand total of £2800.

Bolton (40), of Doo’cot Park, Arbroath, admitted that on February 23 at Marco’s chip shop in the town’s Arbirlot Road he assaulted Wayne Hulme, care of Tayside Police, seized him by the clothing and scratched him on the body.

He also admitted, at the same date and place, he conducted himself in a disorderly manner, shouted and swore, threatened the lieges with violence, threatened to return and damage the property to the alarm of the lieges and committed a breach of the peace.

He further admitted, at the same date and place, he without reasonable excuse wilfully or recklessly destroyed or damaged property, namely an electronic till.

Depute fiscal Nicola Gillespie told the court that Bolton and another male had gone to the shop at around 9.30pm.

“The accused came in with another person and both were drunk,” Miss Gillespie said.

“The accused placed an order and a member of staff began preparing it. The accused then went outside and returned a few minutes later.”

Miss Gillespie said the accused was heard shouting about how long his meal was going to take, using swear words as he did so.

“He was warned about his language by a member of staff but he continued shouting.”

She said Bolton then threatened to kill the staff member before leaping over the counter and grabbing hold of the complainer, whom he scratched on the arm.

Bolton continued to shout and swear, at times uttering, “I’ll be back to kill you all” and “I’ll be back to **** this whole shop up.”

The court heard that during the course of the incident an electronic till was broken.

“The accused left the shop but was subsequently detained by police officers at 11pm,” Miss Gillespie added.

“He admitted he had been drinking and admitted he had been in the chip shop.

“He also accepted that he had been shouting and swearing although he did say that they deserved what they got.”

Miss Gillespie told Sheriff Norrie Stein the cost of damage to the “brand new till” was put at £2500.

An agent for Bolton said her client could not remember specific details of the incident due to his intoxification but fully accepted his responsibility and the punishment that was coming to him.

She said her client had been through a particularly unsettling time and that alcohol had got the better of him on that day.

He had since turned his life around and had acquired both new accommodation and a permanent job, she added.

She told Sheriff Stein that Bolton had written a letter to the member of staff and the chip shop owner apologising for his “outrageous behaviour” and also offering to help pay for the damage he had caused.

Sheriff Stein told Bolton, “You refer in your letter to your outrageous behaviour. Indeed that’s what it was and it justifies a prison sentence.

“As an alternative, the complainer in charge one will receive £150 from you and there will be a cumulo fine of £150 on the other two charges.

“You will also pay £2500 for the damage to the till. That makes a total of £2800.”