Racist thief jailed after threatening police officers and abusing shop workers
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Jonathan Watling, of Westwood Avenue in Kirkcaldy, appeared before Sheriff Jamie Gilchrist from prison via video link at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court.
Watling’s month-long crime spree in Kirkcaldy began on December 4, 2020 at BP Garage in St Clair Street, Kirkcaldy he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner in that he shouted, swore and made racially offensive remarks while on bail.
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Hide AdHe further admitted on the same date at Malthurst Ltd, Wemyssfield Service Station in Abbotshall Road, Kirkcaldy he stole a coffee while on bail.
Watling, 35, further admitted on December 13, 2020 at Nisa in Overton Road he stole a coffee, shouted, swore and uttered threats while on bail. On December 25, 2020 at Malthurst Ltd in Abbotshall Road he stole a coffee while on bail.
On December 18, 2020 at Longannet Access Road, Kincardine while travelling in a police vehicle, he repeatedly made threats of violence towards two police constables and their families and he spat and urinated.
A few weeks later on January 13, 2021 at Greens – Loco supermarket in St Clair Street, he repeatedly refused to leave the premises, shouted, swore, uttered threats of sexual violence towards a female employee, acted in an aggressive manner, kicked a door and challenged a man to a fight.
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Hide AdOn the same date in the same place he assaulted a female employee by spitting on her body.
The Procurator Fiscal depute said: “At around 8.15am on December 4, 2020 Watling went into the BP garage and went over to the coffee machine. The witness recognised him from previous incidents and asked him to leave because he was banned from the petrol station.”
Watling swore at her and made a comment about the woman’s nationality and called her a ‘terrorist’ before leaving.
The Procurator Fiscal Depute continued: “That same day at 9am he went into another petrol station and went to make a coffee using the coffee machine. The shop worker told him he had to pay for the coffee first and he replied: “Go back to your own country”. He mumbled and went up to other customers saying he would fight them and was talking about Pakistan and Afghanistan.” He left without paying for the coffee.
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Hide AdPolice viewed CCTV of the incident and he was traced later that day.
Watling’s defence lawyer told the court his client had been drinking alcohol and taking illicit valium and ‘had little recollection of events’. He said Watling had been taking steps to do with his drug issues and was prepared to do unpaid work. He added that Watling had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.
However, Sheriff Gilchrist told Watling the offences were ‘extremely serious’: “Your behaviour overall is completely unacceptable. Your remarks towards the police officers was alarming - the offences on the indictment are exceptionally serious.”
He sentenced him to a total of 17 months in prison.