An Angus man who went into “self-destruct mode” and assaulted a Brechin businessman while on bail has been placed on a year’s community payback order under supervision.
Joseph Bryden, 36, of Nursery Park, Brechin, appeared from custody at Forfar Sheriff Court to be sentenced.
The court heard he had pled guilty to two charges at an earlier appearance in April.
Depute fiscal Jill Drummond told the court Bryden entered Zize Vape in High Street, Brechin, on the afternoon of April 13, 2018.
The owner was in the shop and Bryden produced a packet of razors and a bottle of perfume which he was hoping to sell.
She said: “He was asked to leave the property but he then asked if he could have an item which was on display for nothing.”
Bryden left the shop but re-entered, shouting at the owner and walked behind the counter.
She continued: “He was shouting and swearing and the witness picked up a metal bar, which was part of a display shelf, which he brandished at him.
“The accused took his jacket off and adopted a boxing-style stance.”
The court was told the shop owner forced the accused out of the premises.
Whilst outside, the accused punched the business-man and a member of the public called police.
The businessman had grazing on his forehead and elbow and his glasses were broken but he did not require medical attention.
The accused ran off but when cautioned and charged by the police, he said “he assaulted me.”
At the earlier hearing Bryden pled guilty to behaving in a threatening manner, refusing to leave Zize Vape on April 13, repeatedly attempting to gain access to areas of the store not open to the public, shouting, swearing and challenging an employee to fight him.
He also pled guilty to assaulting the employee by pushing him on the body, and repeatedly punching him on the head to his injury while on bail which was granted on March 29 2018.
Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown told Bryden: “I appreciate that, at the time, you were on a self-destruct mode and you accept that.”
She sentenced him to a community payback order under supervision for 12 months and ordered him to carry out a drug treatment programme.
