Drink thief knifeman gets 7 months

WHEN supermarket staff confronted a shoplifter who had stolen a bottle of booze, they discovered he was armed with a knife.

But staff members wrestled the man to the ground, disarmed him and held him there until police arrived.

Appearing in Inverness Sheriff Court on Tuesday was 40-year-old Alexander Denoon Scullion who was jailed for seven months.

Scullion, of Room 17, 34 Baron Taylors Street, Inverness, admitted on indictment stealing a bottle of Tudor Rose fortified wine from Tesco in Tomnahurich Street on June 10 last year, and committing a breach of the peace by struggling with members of staff, lashing out with his arms, and brandishing a knife.

He also admitted committing the offences while on bail.

He had initially been charged on two further counts of assaulting staff members Alastair Campbell and Annette Smith by presenting a knife at them and attempting to strike them on the head and body with it, but his not guilty plea to these charges was accepted by the crown.

Fiscal Sharon Ralph said Scullion was spotted acting suspiciously in the alcohol sales area of the store and was seen to hide a bottle in his clothing.

He left the premises and was confronted by Mr Campbell and Ms Smith who asked him to return, but he started to struggle with them.

"At that stage it was seen he had a knife with a five-inch blade which he held as he struggled with the staff," said Ms Ralph.

"Mr Campbell managed to get the accused on the floor, and other members of staff ran to his assistance and the police were called.

"Given the nature of the charges he now faces, it is clear that nobody was injured."

Solicitor Ian Innes, defending, said Scullion had not intended to harm anyone with the knife.

He told the court his client’s brother was a chef and had shown him how they carried knives safely in kitchens with the handle pointing forward and the blade lying up against the inside of the arm.

Mr Innes demonstrated this to Sheriff Margaret Nielson with a pen.

He told the sheriff: "He has a long list of convictions for shoplifting, but he does not normally carry a knife.

"He just seems to have had this knife in his possession. It was more by omission than commission, if I may put it like that."

Jailing Scullion, Sheriff Nielson told him: "Having a knife with you in that situation is simply not acceptable in any event. I take the view that only a custodial sentence is appropriate given the serious nature of the offence and your record."