A female staff member at a Dunfermline bookies was left shaken when a punter threatened to kill her.
Dunfermline Sheriff Court heard Barry Purches tried to place a bet at the Betfred premises in the city’s High Street but was refused service due to a previous incident.
The 53-year-old was told to leave by the woman and he began shouting and swearing.
Procurator fiscal depute Amy Robertson he told the court he made threats similar to “sleep with one eye open” and “I will f***ing kill you.”
The fiscal depute said Purches then left and the employee was “shaken up” and worried in case he returned.
She reported the incident to her supervisors and the shop was shut early as she was due to close up herself and there were concerns for her safety.
Purches, of Dunfermline’s Petrel Way, admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by adopting an aggressive demeanour, shouting, swearing and uttering threats of violence, on April 2 this year.
Defence lawyer David McLaughlin said Purches had lost his temper and when he returned to apologise, the shop was already closed.
Sheriff James MacDonald described Purches’ criminal record as “lamentable” and sentenced him to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.
Charity embezzler
A Fife woman “abused the extra opportunity” of lockdown to steal £8,000 from a charity. Sharon McIntosh, 52, embezzled the money while employed as an assistant manager at Express Group Fife Ltd, which helps people cope with poor mental health. It was her second such offence and she was jailed.
Jacket thief collared
An “opportunistic” thief stole a jacket from the back of an unlocked car at a Dundee city centre hotel and was caught wearing it.
Caleb Gorman, 25, appeared from custody at Dundee Sheriff Court.
He admitted that in the early hours of Sunday he stole from a car at Hampton by Hilton, Argyllgait, Dundee.
Depute fiscal Emma Farmer told the court: “The complainer had parked her car in the car park and was at the hotel for an event.
“The witness observed the boot of the car was open at around 2.15am.
“They made contact with the complainer whose vehicle it was, who established a jacket was missing.
“The accused was apprehended wearing the jacket.
Defence solicitor Joe Myles, in mitigation for Gorman, said: “This was an opportunistic theft.
“He had been out drinking and has little recollection of events.
“Something must have drawn his attention to the car.
“He was spotted on CCTV in the vicinity of the vehicle.
“He was apprehended a short time after.
“He does have a record, he had been released from custody on New Year’s Eve 2021.
“He does have difficulty with drink and abuse of other substances.”
Sheriff Alison Michie deferred sentence for criminal justice and social work reports and released Gorman, of South Esk Terrace, Brechin, on bail until October 11.
Sneering abuser jailed
A Fife child sex abuser told families of his victims his sentence was “better than I thought” as he was jailed. William McAleese, 48, was convicted by a jury of sexually assaulting two boys over a five-year period following a trial last month. He was given an extended sentence of four years.
Slapped woman
Matthew Sek, of Oakbank Road, Perth, man has admitted slapping a woman during an outburst at a Dundee flat.
Sek pled guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, likely to cause fear or alarm, in a Dunhope Street property on October 7, last year.
The charge states he shouted, swore and made suicidal threats to the woman, before slapping her on the body.
Sek was not at Dundee Sheriff Court when his case called and solicitor David Holmes submitted a guilty plea on the 23-year-old’s behalf.
Sentence was deferred until October 17 for background reports.
Cup final violence
St Johnstone fan Lewis Macleod, 23, has been found guilty of being part of a rampaging mob that clashed with police and staff outside McDiarmid Park. He was among around 30 supporters who gathered at the Perth stadium to welcome players back after their historic Scottish Cup win in May last year. Events turned violent and Macleod was involved.
Drugs deferral
A Fife woman foiled by sniffer dogs as she tried to smuggle hundreds of pounds worth of cannabis resin onto HMP Perth has had her sentence further deferred to be of good behaviour.
Charmaine Knowles previously admitted at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court, being concerned in the supply of the Class B drug.
The 22-year-old, of Lawson Street in Kirkcaldy, attempted to enter the Edinburgh Road jail on April 30 last year with £255 of illicit resin.
She had made her way beyond the barrier at reception, into the sterile area and sniffer dogs signalled she should be searched.
She returned to court to be sentenced and Sheriff James Williamson deferred until January 13 for a further good behaviour report.
