An Aberdeen man has been given unpaid work for a “disgraceful catalogue” of offences, including assaulting several men and referring to a security guard as “sausage boy”.
Gareth Sands repeatedly kicked and tried to bite a police officer and stole a pair of sunglasses from WH Smith at the city’s train station during a number of incidents in September and November last year.
He also made threats to security workers in Union Square, warning one he would punch them so hard “his freckles would fall off”.
Sands, 37, previously admitted the offences and appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court for sentencing yesterday.
The court heard that on November 8, despite having been banned from the shopping centre, Sands was spotted walking through Union Square by security officers.
Fiscal depute Lucy Simpson said: “He had previously been advised he was not welcome and was instructed to leave.
“A number of other security staff attended and, while escorting the accused off the premises, he shouted and swore.
“He made further remarks to a man, calling him ‘fat’ and ‘sausage boy’.”
Later that day Sands was seen asking members of the public for money, then threatened to “batter” a man who had asked him to stop.
Sands continued to behave aggressively after he was arrested and taken to Kittybrewster police station.
He attempted to butt and bite an officer and, when asked what he was doing, replied: “I’m away to put my head through your face.”
Sheriff William Summers described Sands’ actions as a “disgraceful catalogue” of offences but decided to “give him the benefit of the doubt” and stopped short of sending him to jail.
Sands, of West North Street, was put on an 18-month supervision order and told to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work.
He was admonished for the theft of sunglasses and failing to appear for a previous court date.