A COUNTY man who grabbed the neck of a supermarket security guard during a struggle has been remanded in custody pending sentencing.

Craig Douglas was within the Asda store on Sandpiper Drive, Edinburgh, when he became involved in a physical tussle with the security officer.

Douglas was attempting to leave the store when the alarm went off, leading to Asda employee Stewart Ballantine “approach[ing] the accused and challeng[ing] him”.

Mr Ballantine grabbed hold of Douglas’s jacket at the chest area to stop him leaving the premises before Douglas then pushed the guard “in an attempt to flee” the store.

Prosecutor Mark Keane told Edinburgh Sheriff Court that a struggle then ensued between the pair which spilled into the foyer of the supermarket.

During the altercation, the fiscal said that Douglas “grabbed [the employee] by the neck and applied pressure”, which led to the guard “having trouble breathing”.

The court heard that Douglas then let go of the employee and Mr Ballantine managed to take him to the ground where he was subsequently restrained until police could arrive a short time later.

Officers then viewed CCTV footage of the incident and Douglas was cautioned and charged with assault and theft charges.

Douglas appeared at the Capital court from custody last Thursday, where he pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Ballantine and had a not guilty plea to stealing a quantity of alcohol accepted by the Crown.

Sheriff Joseph Stewart remanded Douglas in custody and deferred sentence for the preparation of social work reports to later this month.