A Barrhead man coughed on an Asda employee telling her she had Covid-19 when he couldn’t get the pizza he wanted.
Aiden Lyndsey, of Firbank Terrace, coughed at Stephanie Dunn when she was working on the pizza counter in the Church Road supermarket and then went on to state he had coronavirus and spit on his hands.
Procurator fiscal Kerry Marshall told Paisley Sheriff Court: “Around 2.50pm on Tuesday, April 2020, Ms Dunn and Ms Simpson were on duty as store assistants working at the pizza counter in Asda.
“The accused approached the counter and asked for a custom pizza.
“Lyndsey was told they couldn’t do what he has requested.
“The accused then stated, ‘What’s the point in that?’
“And he leaned over the counter and started making himself cough on the counter and in Ms Dunn’s face.
“Dunn was forced to jump back from the counter.
“The accused stated, ‘I’ve got the virus.’ and continued to cough towards Ms Dunn.
“Ms Dunn moved away and asked for assistance.
“Team leaders attended and went over to Lyndsey and asked him to leave but he refused to do so.
“When the accused was told police would be contacted, he stated, ‘Go f*****g phone the police.’
“Lyndsey was asked to leave and he continued to refuse and be aggressive.
“He shouted, ‘I’ve not got the f*****g virus, f*****g idiots.’
“Lyndsey then spat on his hands and rubbed his saliva on his clothes.
“He was then escorted out of the store when he continued to shout and swear, ‘F**k you, f**k the lot of you, I’ll f*****g spit on the lot of yous.’
“The accused eventually left the store and police were contacted.
“The accused was traced and at a residential property and arrested around 5.45pm.”
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Lyndsey, 23, appeared in the dock from custody on Friday wearing a Weekend Offender T-shirt, and admitted he assaulted Stephanie Dunn by spitting on her and stating he had Covid-19, on April 7, 2020.
The vile thug also admitted shouting, swearing, uttering threats and spitting on his hands and rubbing his saliva on his clothing on the same day.
Defence solicitor David Nicholson asked for reports to be called for as Lyndsey was 21 at the time of the offence.
Sheriff Eoin McGinty said: “These are absolutely appalling offences and all options are available to the court.
“I’m going to call for reports, in the meantime you are technically on bail for this matter but you are remanded on another matter.”
Lyndsey will return to court on March 15 for sentencing.
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