An Arbroath thug racially abused a shopkeeper and smashed his shop door, then verbally attacked staff, police and a child at Ninewells Hospital.
Michael Nicoll also stole booze from a supermarket and attacked a security guard there, struck his ex-partner’s head off a door and brandished a hammer and a screwdriver during an argument, all on separate dates.
Nicoll’s 13 months of crime began on July 31 last year, when he arrived at McGregor’s Walk in Arbroath, fully armed.
Having bumped into a resident there earlier and started arguing with him, Nicoll returned in possession of a hammer and a screwdriver.
He began shouting in the street outside the man’s home and brandished both weapons while shouting and swearing.
He persisted and police were called
On August 2 last year, he arrived at his ex’s home in Warddykes Avenue in Arbroath, seized her by the throat and pushed her, causing her head to strike a door inside the property.
Supermarket rammy
A year-long hiatus in Nicoll’s offending ended when he walked into Arbroath’s Morrisons on September 6 this year.
He helped himself to two bottles of whisky and a bottle of Bacardi before trying to leave without paying.
Staff asked him to return the bottles but Nicoll punched a security guard on the head.
He had to be restrained by staff and was left bleeding when one of the bottles smashed.
On September 19, he directed a racist rant towards the shopkeeper at Harbour Stores on the town’s High Street.
After making threats to stab the shop worker and calling him a “P*ki,” Nicoll picked up an advertising board and threw it at the door, causing a glass panel to smash.
Kicked off in hospital
Police were contacted and when he was being taken into custody, he told officers he had swallowed pills and cocaine and was taken to Ninewells.
Tests later showed there were no traces of the drugs in his body.
At Ninewells, Nicoll began abusing staff and police.
He was continually shouting and swearing, calling police offensive names and demanding food.
He threw a crockery across the room and continued shouting.
As he was discharged, he called two nurses “cows” and said “P*ki” at a young girl who police believed was of Pakistani ethnicity.
She did not hear but police escorting him did.
“Horrendous”
At Forfar Sheriff Court, Nicoll appeared to be sentenced after admitting assault, acting threateningly weapon possession, theft, vandalism and abusive behaviour.
His solicitor Billy Rennie said the offences were “a litany of appalling behaviour.”
“He has drug misuse and mental health difficulties.”
Mr Rennie added: “He expresses remorse and shame. He has been trying to access support.”
Sheriff Derek Reekie sentenced Nicoll for the 2021 offences to a year of supervision and 140 days on a restriction of liberty order.
The sheriff deferred sentencing on the two September matters for a progress update.
He said: “The last two offences are just horrendous – the last in the catalogue of offending is appalling.
“I’m keeping you on a short leash.
“You’re extremely lucky to be avoiding jail at the moment.”
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