Threw groceries after being asked to take his dog out of shop

Andris Zivtins, whose address was given to the court as Princes Street, Lurgan, admitted unlawful assault and disorderly behaviour in the Eastern European food store, William Street, on December 24 last year.

For the assault charge he was fined £250 and ordered to pay a £15 offender’s levy and for the disorderly offence he was fined £100.

Zivtins was also bound over in the sum of £500 for 12 months to keep the peace and be of good behaviour.

The court heard that police received a report of a man acting in an aggressive manner towards staff in the shop.

They were given a description of him and he was seen walking with a small brown dog.

Police went to his home and arrested him.

The defendant had been verbally abusive to a female and thrown a bag of groceries which caused her fear and distress.

When he was interviewed Zivtons said he shouted at her to ‘f—k off’ after he had been told to put the dog outside the shop.

He was verbally abusive throughout the interview and swore repeatedly.

He admitted throwing the bag of groceries in the direction of the injured party but there was no impact.

She had to move back or she would have been hit.

Zivtins showed no remorse for his actions and was warned repeatedly about his language.

Mr Conor Downey, representing the defendant, said it was Christmas Eve and Zivtins had taken three or four bottles of beer before going out to do the last of his shopping.

He added that there was a dispute between the defendant and the owner of the shop over the dog and Zivtons over-reacted.

Mr Downey said his client would apologise to the owner and he was now banned from the shop.

There had been nothing else since this incident.

District Judge, Mr Mervyn Bates, said the defendant’s behaviour was ‘unacceptable’ not only during the incident itself but also when he was being interviewed.

He added that it was quite reasonable to ask for the dog to be taken out of the shop and his reaction was to hurl abuse and throw a bag of groceries.