A man threatened to rip Caffe Nero employees’ throats out after they declined to give him a free cup of tea.
Arron Campbell had nipped into the Union Street cafe and requested an empty cup, which he was given.
But 10 minutes later he returned and ordered a cup of tea. Staff were midway through preparing it when he advised them he couldn’t pay.
When staff refused to give him the drink for free, the 38-year-old flew into a rage, shouting and swearing at them, vowing: “I’ll rip your throats out.”
Incident caused ‘something of an upset’
Fiscal depute Lewis Devoy told Aberdeen Sheriff Court: “A little after 8.30am on December 18 2021, the accused entered the locus and asked the staff for an empty cup and left.
“Around 10 minutes later he returned and asked staff for a cup of tea.
“They began to make it and the accused advised he would be unable to pay for it.
“Staff started serving other customers and the accused was asked to leave.
“The accused shouted something along the lines of ‘phone the pigs, I’ll rip your f***ing throats out, you f***ing t***s’.”
Mr Devoy said the outburst caused “something of an upset” in the shop and Campbell was again asked to leave but refused.
Police were contacted and when officers arrived they noted Campbell to be “under the influence”.
While being arrested and placed in a van, Campbell “lunged” toward an officer and attempted to headbutt him but did not make contact.
In a separate incident, days later on December 23, Campbell assaulted a security guard at the Bon Accord Centre by grabbing him by the throat.
Accused ‘not proud’ of actions
And when arrested on that occasion he also punched a police officer to the body.
Campbell, of Charlotte Gardens, Aberdeen, pled guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, assault, and two charges of assaulting a police officer.
Defence agent Chris Maitland told the court his client was “not proud” of his actions.
He added Campbell had been “intoxicated” at the time and was “remorseful about his behaviour”.
Sheriff Lesley Johnston handed Campbell a year’s supervision and 75 hours of unpaid work.
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