A man threatened to stab supermarket staff with a blood-filled syringe.
Keith McEwan, 37, admitted the offence when he appeared from custody at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday.
He admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, shouting, swearing and making threats of violence at the Morrisons store in the city’s King Street on Sunday.
McEwan, of 2 Elmfield Place, Aberdeen, also admitted giving a false name and date of birth to police outside the supermarket.
However, he denied stealing a quantity of toiletries and his not guilty plea was accepted by the Crown.
Fiscal depute Colin Neilson said McEwan tried to run away from staff at the supermarket after the alarm was raised.
“The accused said he had a blood-filled syringe,” said Mr Neilson, and added McEwan was restrained and police called to the scene.
McEwan was searched but no syringe was found.
The court was told that binge-drinking was a problem for McEwan.
Sheriff Edward deferred sentence until April 21 for reports and remanded McEwan in custody.
The sheriff said: “It seems to me, looking at your record, talk about revolving door syndrome – they are spinning doors.
“It is not doing you any good and it is not doing society any good.”
Although McEwan asked to be dealt with on the spot, the sheriff said wanted to establish what could be done for him in terms of residential rehab.