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Highland B&B operator asked to make charity donation as Inverness Sheriff Court told he 'didn't know about the pandemic' during flashpoint incident at Tesco in Ullapool


By Ali Morrison

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Sheriff Sara Matheson.
Sheriff Sara Matheson.

A Highland bed and breakfast proprietor who claimed he didn't know about the Covid restrictions and social distancing when he went to his local Wester Ross supermarket in March 2020 is to make a £100 donation to charity.

Ronald Purdie, aged 70, who runs the Stonechats B and B in Scourie, appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court today and admitted threatening or abusive behaviour to staff in the Ullapool Tesco on March, 19, 2020.

Fiscal depute Ruraidh Allison told Sheriff Sara Matheson that Purdie was asked at the check-out to retreat to a two metre marker.

"He said: 'I don't have a disease' and then became agitated. He threw a £20 not at the check-out assistant and said to her: 'Here you are, you silly cow.' He was then escorted from the premises by a member of staff and a security officer."

Defence solicitor Matthew Berlow said his client claimed he didn't know about the pandemic and added that he thought that was hard to believe.

"Then I realised this incident was at the very start of the pandemic. My client doesn't own a TV or radio or listen to the news. He also keeps to himself.

"He didn't know what was happening. He has been to that Tesco hundreds of times and felt he was being treated like a little boy. But it was still unpleasant behaviour."

Sheriff Matheson decided to admonish Purdie but added: "I am going to put you on trust and ask you to make a £100 donation to charity."

Purdie replied: "I can certainly do that."


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