A Blairgowrie man hurled homophobic abuse at a bartender after he was refused more booze during a drunken day out on April Fool’s Day this year.
John Nathan Robertson repeatedly called a barman working at the town’s Crown Bar on April 1 this year a “f*****” when he was denied another drink, Perth Sheriff Court heard this week.
Fiscal depute Elizabeth Hodgson said staff working at the bar that day observed Robertson entering the premises sometime late in the evening and that he appeared to be “heavily under the influence of alcohol”.
She said staff refused to serve him any more alcohol due to his apparent intoxication and this annoyed him.
“The accused became irate and began shouting and swearing at the bar staff,” Ms Hodgson told the court.
“He was repeatedly asked to leave. He became argumentative and aggressive.
“The accused called a member of staff a f***** repeatedly.”
Ms Hodgson said Robertson went on to threaten to find out where the male member of staff lived and damage their property.
“He said he would smash their windows,” Ms Hodgson said. “These remarks were overheard by members of the public and other employees.”
Ms Hodgson said at this point the pub’s owner Navin Niraj Sharma was watching Robertson misbehaving via a CCTV feed to his mobile phone and he went to the pub to try and de-escalate the situation.
A solicitor acting for Robertson told the court on Wednesday this week Mr Sharma was eventually able to calm his client down.
Robertson (28), of Forest Way, Blairgowrie, admitted repeatedly shouting, swearing, uttering homophobic remarks and refusing to leave the Crown Bar when he was asked to do so on April 1 this year.
He further admitted to repeatedly following Scott Williams in an aggressive manner, repeatedly making threats including threats of violence and threats of destroying property towards staff members and patrons as part of the same charge.
He also admitted pointing his fingers in close proximity to the face of Mr Sharma during the incident.
“I think it’s fair to say he is thoroughly ashamed of his behaviour,” Robertson’s solicitor told the court.
The solicitor went on to state that Robertson had a medical condition and this could partly account for the language he used towards the barman on the day in question.
Sheriff Euan Duthie questioned this claim, however, telling the solicitor: “It’s aggressive behaviour. That only explains so much.”
The solicitor added: “He accepts his behaviour was completely out of order.”
Sheriff Duthie sentenced Robertson to complete 66 hours of unpaid work, reduced from 99 to take into account his early plea of guilty to the charge.
He told Robertson: “This is entirely unacceptable conduct. Bar staff are entitled not to be harassed.”
