A serial offender from Dundee has been jailed after fighting with supermarket staff over paper towels.
Ziggi Christie, 42, had been banned from entering Farmfoods in Lochee, last summer.
He was caught walking back into the shop by members of staff, who recognised him.
He bizarrely took a bunch of paper towels from the front of the store, meant for sanitising trolleys as the country wrestled with the coronavirus pandemic.
Staff followed him out, where a fight ensued.
Christie spat on one of the shop workers, punched him on the head and struggled with him on the ground outside the shop’s front door.
Paper towels fight
Depute fiscal Lee Corr told Dundee Sheriff Court: “The accused had been released from custody on special conditions not to approach the shop.
“Staff were aware he had continued to enter the shop on two occasions after his release.
“Witness Alan Manzies saw the accused in the shop.
“He saw him pick up paper towels and exit the store.
“Mr Manzies approached the accused and took the towels from him and said ‘these are for customers’.
“The accused reacted aggressively.
“He squared up to the witness.
“He punched Mr Manzies to the face and attempted to kick him.
“He then spat at him.
“The accused was restrained and police contacted.
“He was conveyed to police HQ, cautioned, charged and made no reply.”
Jailed six months
Defence solicitor Douglas McConnell told Sheriff Gregor Murray: “The circumstances are not wonderful – your Lordship will take a serious view, particularly with his record.”
The sheriff jailed Christie for six months, adding: “You assaulted a member of staff who was just trying to do their job.
“You were also on bail at the time.”
Christie, of Elders Court, admitted assaulting Alan Manzies on June 25 2021 and breaching a bail condition banning him from entering Farmfoods in Lochee from January 14 2021.
Bogey man
Christie was previously jailed in October 2021 after terrifying a woman and a child at a bus stop in Dundee, claiming to be the “bogey man”.
He threatened them for not giving him a shot of the boy’s scooter.
A year before, he drunkenly returned to a flat he had previously occupied a decade before and battered down the door, believing he still lived there, before making off with the then-occupant’s belongings.
Among his more than 100 convictions dating back at least 25 years are numerous crimes of theft, assault and vandalism.
