A VEGAN shouted that staff were “poisoning” residents at a care home by feeding them chocolate.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard that Duncan McLaren, 37, shouted obscenities at staff at Linlathen Neurological Care Centre, on Arbroath Road, when he spotted chocolate bars on a food trolley.
McLaren, of Forest Park Place, also mumbled about the murdering of animals and told staff not to feed chocolate to his mother, who is a resident there.
Fiscal depute John Adams told the court the incident took place on December 9 last year.
The fiscal said: “As the accused entered the centre he passed a trolley and saw lots of chocolate bars on it.
“He seemed to take exception to this because he is a vegan and mumbled something about the murdering of animals.”
McLaren then shouted: “You’re poisoning residents by giving them that.”
The fiscal continued: “The accused was described as red in the face and angry at that point.
“He went into his mother’s room and saw chocolate bars there and shouted, ‘She’s vegan, she’s not eating that’.
“He shouted obscenities and because of his demeanour and fear for other residents, police were contacted.”
When officers arrived, McLaren was cautioned and charged.
Solicitor David Duncan, defending, told the court McLaren suffered from Huntington’s disease.
Mr Duncan said: “Physically he does not suffer from his condition but he is noticing a decline mentally and he is having trouble.
“There’s been a long-standing issue between him and the people who give his mother care.
“He has always said he was able to care for his mother and until recently he did.
“He has a deep-seated mistrust of the people who care for her but she lacks the capacity to decide who cares for her.”
McLaren admitted that on December 9 last year, at Linlathen Neurological Care Centre, he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting, swearing and throwing items.
Sheriff Brown said: “I accept you do not trust medical services, however I do. They do an important job and you will not stop them from doing their job and being able to provide care by kicking off.”
McLaren was placed on a three-year anti-social behaviour order, prohibiting him from conducting himself in a disorderly manner at the centre and from mistreating, abusing or shouting and swearing at staff or residents there.
The care centre was approached for comment but had not responded by time of going to press.
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