A BORDERS shopper who reacted angrily to coronavirus restrictions and made threats towards supermarket staff has been told he was fortunate not to be jailed.

Paul Marshall, 37, hit the roof when he was told by Hawick’s Aldi staff that he could not enter the store with his partner as they were only allowing one person per household to do the shopping.

Marshall then said his partner would pick up a basket and do her shopping separately but was told that was not permitted, which is when he launched into a foul-mouthed tirade of abuse.

Selkirk Sheriff Court was told he swore at staff members, making comments including: ‘This is a joke’, ‘No-one speaks to my woman like that’ and ‘I will take you all on’.

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Marshall, of Wellfield Road, Hawick, squared up to a member of staff before leaving the store shouting and swearing.

He pleaded guilty to a charge of threatening or abusive behaviour at the Aldi store in Hawick on the afternoon of March 30 and appeared from custody after a warrant was issued following a previous non-appearance in court.

Defence lawyer Ross Dow said his client had not been back to the store since the incident.

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Sheriff Peter Paterson told him his conduct had been exacerbated by the current pandemic and the difficult conditions staff had to work under.

He said: "Employees are trying to do their job and should not be subjected to this type of behaviour. You chose to abuse them.

"Given your previous record you are very close to prison."

Marshall was ordered to carry out 80 hours’ unpaid work as a direct alternative to custody.