A GREENOCK man who flew into an inexplicable rant after buying steak slices in a pound shop has paid a meaty price after being slapped with a £500 fine.
Gary Morton, 53, was handed the penalty at the sheriff court over his foul-mouthed outburst.
Morton had refused to leave a store in the Oak Mall and stood defiantly at the till area, declaring: "Nobody tells me what to do."
He pleaded guilty to shouting, swearing, acting aggressively and making threatening and offensive remarks.
His lawyer, Amy Spencer, told the court: "It is fair to say that Mr Morton's memory of events is fairly hazy.
"He can offer no proper explanation."
Morton attracted the attention of security staff and sparked a call to police after paying for his steak slices on January 16.
Prosecutor Laura Wilcox said: "The accused was browsing through items and appeared to be drunk.
"He picked up a packet of steak slices, went to the tills and paid for them, however, for an unknown reason he refused to exit the shop.
"The accused stood at the tills while other customers paid for their shopping.
"This resulted in security personnel attending and requesting that he leave.
"The accused swore in stating, 'I'm not going anywhere — nobody tells me what to do'."
Fiscal depute Wilcox added: "He referred to one security guard in derogatory terms and repeatedly refused to desist from his course of behaviour.
"Police were contacted and attended.
"The accused was arrested, cautioned and charged and made no reply."
Solicitor Spencer said: "Mr Morton has just become completely petulant and did say, 'I have a right to stand here'.
"He has had no convictions since 2018."
Morton — who was jailed in 2018 after committing three assaults — had also been charged with punching a security guard.
His not guilty plea to this allegation was accepted by the Crown.
In fining Morton £500, Sheriff David Pender told him: "I note the terms of your last conviction and the disposal, however, since then there has been no violence."
