A GALASHIELS man involved in incidents involving shop workers and a bus driver in the Langlee area of the town on the same day has been ordered to carry out a total of 185 hours unpaid work.

Sam Finlayson pleaded guilty at Selkirk Sheriff Court to the offences which happened at the Spar shop in Marigold Bank on May 9 last year and also in Woodstock Avenue.

Depute fiscal India McLean said that at around 12.20pm Finlayson entered the store and got involved in an altercation with employees and ended up challenging them to fight.

At around 6.30pm on the same day Finlayson signalled for a public service bus in Woodstock Avenue but his bus card was not working and he was told he would need to leave the bus.

Finlayson then became confrontational and uttered threats of violence before grabbing the driver’s arm and attempting to strike him on the head.

Police were called and after officers watched CCTV coverage Finlayson – who pleaded guilty to charges of threatening or abusive behaviour and assault – was cautioned and charged.

Sheriff Douglas Keir said it was “shameful behaviour in both the shop and on the bus”.

He imposed a community payback order as an alternative to custody, involving a total of 185 hours of unpaid work.