A man who walked into a bar and ordered a glass of water before spraying hand sanitiser into the eyes of a pub boss has been given a chance to behave.
Angus Hughes turned aggressive with staff at Siberia Bar and Hotel when they tried to stop him from setting fire to an outdoor trellis.
The 26-year-old then pulled a plastic plant decoration from the trellis and burned it with a lighter in front of workers.
Co-director of Siberia Bar and Hotel Stuart McPhee told the Press and Journal that when he attempted to eject Hughes from the premises he sprayed hand sanitiser directly into his eyes.
Mr McPhee said he and his staff “should not have to take” threats and abuse from customers “when we’re just doing our job”.
Hughes was given three months to be of good behaviour at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.
‘He tried to set the trellis on fire’
At around 2pm on August 10 2021, Hughes entered the Belmont Street premises on his own and ordered a glass of water before asking to sit out in the beer garden.
“He just started acting really weird. Then he tried to set the trellis on fire,” Mr McPhee said.
When Hughes was asked to leave he shouted, swore and made numerous threats to staff as they attempted to get him out of the building.
Mr McPhee said he was forced to get involved when Hughes refused to leave the pub.
He said: “I put myself between him and the bar and we exchanged unpleasantries.
“I got him out and then he came back in, grabbed the hand sanitiser and sprayed it all over my eyes.”
On the same day, Hughes also set fire to a piece of wood at Transition Extreme on Links Road, burning a grass area.
Asked about Hughes’s actions on that day, Mr McPhee said: “It’s not something we should have to take when we’re just doing our job.
“We have a zero-tolerance policy with anyone causing harm to our staff.
“It’s unacceptable behaviour and it’s really not something my staff should have to put up with.”
Mr McPhee also pointed out that this was also during the time of Covid-19 regulations where customers were required to supply a name and telephone number before being given a table.
“I think he’s just a troubled individual,” Mr McPhee added.
“And I hope he gets the help he needs.”
Hughes pleaded guilty to three charges of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at both Siberia Bar and Transition Extreme.
He additionally admitted a third charge of wilful fire-raising.
In 2021, Hughes admitted throwing furniture out of an Aberdeen high-rise window as members of the public walked below.
‘These are serious matters’
Defence agent Jenny Logan told the court that Hughes had “struggled with his mental health” around the time of his offences.
She added: “With help, he has improved and is no longer in that place. Mr Hughes has tried to change his life for the better.”
Sheriff Graham Buchanan told Hughes that the court had “a lot of detailed information” about his mental health struggles.
He added: “I’m going to impose a sentence of good behaviour but if you re-offend again the court would have to look at this quite seriously – because these are serious matters.”
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