Takeaway worker who hit customer over head with a pizza shovel let off with an admonishment

A takeaway worker who hit a customer over the head with a pizza shovel during a row has been admonished. Dalgit Din escaped punishment after a sheriff said she had been "sorely tested" by the foul-mouthed customer. Forfar Sheriff Court heard the 64-year-old "snapped" when Deborah Williamson refused to leave the Spice of Life shop in Arbroath on December 27 2013.



Din grabbed the implement, which is normally used to take pizzas in and out of the oven at the takeaway, while dealing with another customer as Ms Williamson ranted at her. Video footage of the incident captured by her boyfriend then shows Din attacking Miss Williamson. She lifted the metal shovel with both hands and hit the customer over the head with it. A video of the incident was shown to the court. The sheriff heard Din lost the plot when Ms Williamson refused to leave the shop after being told she was banned.

Din, of Arbroath Road, Dundee, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault to injury committed in the shop at Mayfield Terrace, Arbroath. Ian Flynn, defending, said Miss Williamson had previously been a "nuisance" in the shop and had been asked not to return. He said: "Following the blow, it took the police more than 15 minutes to get there and the aggravation continued. He (the partner) was charged with smashing the door down before the police attended.

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"She's not actually the complainer because neither she nor the boyfriend wanted anything to do with helping the police." Mr Flynn added: "She is not, at 64, I would suggest, likely to reoffend. There has been a distinct provocation from a much younger, much bigger woman." Sheriff Gregor Murray admonished Din and said: "I accept you were subject to considerable provocation but you were the one who snapped. I don't condone what you did but I accept, to a large extent, that you were sorely tested before this took place."