A lout threatened to batter a hostel worker who refused to give him a fist bump due to fears over coronavirus.
David Adam told the frightened worker he was going to “bust” him after he declined to give the greeting in the week’s following the country’s first lockdown.
The 46-year-old later told cops he was going to “smash” the employee at the hostel on Edinburgh’s Princes Street.
Adam appeared at the city’s sheriff court on Wednesday and pled guilty to a charge of threatening or abusive behaviour by shouting and uttering threats.
Fiscal depute Jack Caster said Adam attempted to fist bump the worker outside the accommodation on April 26 last year.
Mr Caster said the man “declined due to Covid-19 and social distancing”.
He added: “The accused thereafter stated words to the effect of ‘You shouldn’t have done that. I’m going to bust you’.”
The court heard Adam started “squaring up” to the victim and “gesturing aggressively”.
Mr Caster said police were called and officers arrested Adam who told them: ‘All I did was square up to him.’
Told by officers he was under caution, the prosecutor said Adam replied: ‘Do I give a f***? I’ll be honest with you, I’m going to smash him.’
Defence agent Sandra Walker admitted her client had a “very bad record” and said he had “spent a lot of time in custody”.
Ms Walker said Adam had been drinking before the incident and was in “good spirits”.
She said Adam had fist bumped with another hostel employee and “made very stupid comments” when the second worker refused.
Sheriff Alistair Noble deferred sentence on unemployed Adam, of the city’s New Town, for six months.
