Galashiels 44-year-old given unpaid work order for causing disturbances at town's Aldi and Boots stores

George Martin pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at Aldi in King Street on April 13 and at Boots at Gala Water Retail Park on September 30.

Fiona Hamilton, prosecuting, said staff were stocking shelves at Aldi when they saw the accused enter and he was challenged about being banned and asked to leave.

She told Selkirk Sheriff Court: “He refused to leave and began shouting at staff and swearing at them.

“He tried to trip up one person and fell through an open door. He was constantly shouting and swearing and accused them of assaulting him.

“He upturned a rack containing brochures and threw it onto the floor.

“He took hold of a shopping trolley and rammed it against the glass doors.

“The accused then pushed a trolley into some pot plants that were outside the store and overturned and damaged them.

“This was all caught on CCTV.”

Ms Hamilton then described how Martin, of King Street in Galashiels, caused further trouble at Boots five months later.

He had entered the store to collect a prescription but was refused service because of his demeanour. He then ran back into the store, fell to the ground and shouted for an inhaler.

Ms Hamilton said: “The pharmacist put him in the recovery position and returned to the counter.

“When the ambulance service arrived, the accused became agitated and the police had to be called.

“He kicked out at two police officers and then spat on another one.”

Martin was not cautioned or charged at the time due to his behaviour.

Defence lawyer Colin Severin said his client was an alcoholic but had been taking steps to address the problem.

He added: “He behaved disgracefully and describes the pharmacist as a lovely girl.”

Sheriff Raymond McMenamin, describing those events as alarming for staff at both stores, imposed a 12-month community payback order on Martin involving 120 hours’ unpaid work.