A thug has been jailed for threatening a supermarket manager with tweezers and robbing him of a television.
Mark Monteith brandished the beauty accessory at the male manager and shouted: “If you don’t let me walk away with the TV I’ll stick this in your neck.”
The “frightening” incident happened at Asda in Hamilton in the early hours of Hogmanay last year.
Robbie McDougall, prosecuting, told Hamilton Sheriff Court: “The accused entered about 2am and security staff thought he was acting suspiciously.
“The night shift manager was informed and he engaged with Monteith who said he wished to buy a TV.
“The victim helped him to the sales area where the item was scanned.
“The accused was asked for payment and began to search his pockets before removing what is now known to be a pair of surgical tweezers.
“He brandished these towards the man who believed the item to be a knife.
“Monteith threatened him and he handed over the TV and backed away from the accused who headed for the exit.
“The manager followed but Monteith turned round and stated ‘I told you I would stick this in your neck. Back off!’
“He then left the store and the police were contacted. Officers found him in nearby Castle Street a short time later.
“He was still in possession of the TV and as he was being arrested he dropped the tweezers on the ground.”
Monteith, 34, of Hamilton, admitted assaulting and robbing the victim and shouting homophobic abuse at the police.
He was on bail for other matters at the time.
Defence lawyer Jackson Bateman said Monteith had a significant drug addiction and his lifestyle at the time was “chaotic”.
The solicitor added: “Thankfully no one was injured during this incident, but he appreciates it would have been a frightening experience for those involved.”
Sheriff Louise Gallacher told Monteith, who admitted previous convictions, that only a prison sentence was appropriate. She jailed him for 18 months, reduced from 24 months because of his guilty plea at an early stage.
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