A man who abused chip shop staff over fritters before headbutting a shop window has been given a community sentence.
Richard Morrison from Brechin shouted and swore at Buster’s Chip Shop staff and a pregnant woman only four days after his release from prison.
The 30-year-old appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court to be sentenced over behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at the Montrose Street shop on August 8.
He had been told to expect a prison sentence but will instead be under the supervision of social workers for the next year.
Sheriff Gregor Murray told Morrison: “What has come out in the wash is that you’re able to complete a community payback order.
“It has transpired that there are alternatives to custody, which was at the forefront of my mind.
“I will allow your previous community payback order to run for another year, which still has 100 hours on it, and in the case of the deferred sentence you’ll have another 80 hours.
“There will also be a supervision requirement.”
The court previously heard Morrison was ejected from the shop twice before he repeatedly struck the door and windows with his head and legs.
Depute fiscal John Adams said: “The locus in question was at Buster’s, a chip shop in Montrose Street, Brechin.
“At 8pm on August 8, two witnesses started at work.
“Another witness who was a customer at that time was heavily pregnant and was due to give birth in three weeks.
“The accused came in heavily under the influence of drink or drugs he was unsteady on his feet.
“He stood next to the (pregnant) witness, stared at her, and she felt terrified and intimidated.
“He was then asked to leave and refused to do so.”
He was forcibly ejected by one of the employees.
Morrison removed his shirt outside the shop before he re-entered and challenged the man to fight him.
He was forcibly removed again.
Mr Adams said: “He began to headbutt the window and door of the shop.”