A man who chased his neighbour into a branch of Tesco and then battered him with a metal pole has been ordered to carry out unpaid work.
Neilson Harris, 21, appeared in the dock at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and admitted chasing the man into the Wellington Road store before striking him on the shoulder with the four-foot object.
The court heard that Harris’s victim eventually managed to overpower him and escape.
Harris also admitted two counts of possession with intent to supply cannabis and Etizolam while in HMP Young Offenders Institution in Polmont.
Fiscal depute Jennifer Pritchard told the court that on February 24 last year the neighbour was standing outside his home when he saw Harris holding a four-foot metal pole.
“He immediately ran away from his home address and was chased to the front entrance of the Tesco South Superstore on Wellington Road,” Ms Pritchard said.
“A staff member became aware of a disturbance and saw the two men within the foyer of the store.
“He then saw the accused strike (the man) to the right shoulder.
“(The victim) was then able to disarm the accused and ran away with the pole.”
Police officers who were called to the scene were unable to trace Harris at the time but later managed to identify him via the store’s CCTV.
Harris pleaded guilty to one charge of assault by striking his victim to the body with a metal pole.
He also admitted two charges of being in possession of cannabis and Etizolam with intent to supply while residing at HMP Young Offenders Institution in Polmont.
‘His temper got the better of him’
Defence agent Sian Grant told the court that there had been a grievance between Harris and his neighbour that preceded this incident.
She added: “Unfortunately, on this occasion, his temper got the better of him and he understands that this was unacceptable behaviour.
“He was under the influence of alcohol at the time.”
Sheriff Eric Brown handed Harris, of Kirkhill Road, Aberdeen, a total of 50 hours of unpaid work.
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