A convicted murderer attempted to assault an employee at a Perth supermarket just months after being released on licence.
William Cook, who is subject to a life-long licence condition, aimed a punch at a worker after she asked him to leave the Asda store on the city’s Dunkeld Road.
At Perth Sheriff Court the 49-year-old, who was originally jailed in 1995, was sent back to prison. He had been released from Castle Huntley in February.
Depute fiscal Tina Dickie told the court that Cook was intoxicated at the time of the incident.
She said: “At about 9.50pm witness Christie was working at the locus as a security guard when she saw the accused outside.
“He seemed intoxicated and was causing a bit of hassle for customers entering Asda so she asked a colleague to attend for support and began to approach him.
“It was clear he was extremely intoxicated and the security officer asked him to leave and go home.
“The witness approached the accused, who lunged towards her and swung a punch towards her. She stepped back and the punch narrowly missed her.”
Police were called and Cook was arrested but became aggressive once at the police station.
Cook’s solicitor said he was struggling with living at his new address in Perth’s St Catherine’s Square and had taken to drinking.
He said: “He accepts he acted in the manner described.
“He has found life at St Catherine’s Square difficult and has been prescribed anti-depressants. That’s the background to his consumption of alcohol.
“He realises he shouldn’t have been drinking
“He now finds himself in a situation where his life licence will be revoked.”
Cook admitted assault by attempting to punch the woman at the Asda store on September 17.
He further admitted behaving threatening or abusive manner at Perth police station by acting in an aggressive manner, struggling with police officers and threatening them with violence.
Sheriff Derek Reekie told Cook: “This was someone at their work, who was entitled to be so, and you attempted to punch her – albeit it was an unsuccessful attempt.”
He sentenced him to a total jail term of 6 months for the new offences.
