A man who attacked a fellow shopper at a north-east discount store has been fined.
After a “verbal altercation” while browsing goods at B&M Bargains in Portlethen, Paul Donaldson butted another man in the face.
The 56-year-old appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday and admitted the assault on March 15.
Fiscal depute John Richardson said: “The complainer was shopping when he passed the accused.
“For reasons that are unclear , the accused made some form of sarcastic comment to the complainer, related to the closeness of the pair as they passed by.”
Mr Richardson said the pair then crossed paths again a short time later, in another part of the store.
“There was a second and similar verbal altercation between the two and it culminated in the accused headbutting him on the mouth,” he said.
Donaldson’s solicitor, Ian Hingston, said the incident was like “something out of a school playground”.
He said: “They bumped into each other, words were exchanged and, ultimately, the complainer asked Mr Donaldson for a fight.”
Mr Hingston described his client as a “working man” and a “family man” and said his last conviction was seven years ago.
He added: “If I said the word ‘pathetic’, he’d agree. He’s embarrassed and ashamed.”
Sheriff Charlotte Coutts fined Donaldson, of Alexander Drive, Aberdeen, £200.