Moray man touched Elgin Asda shopper's chest from behind after mistaking him for former colleague in "prank gone wrong"
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A MAN who mistook an Elgin Asda shopper for a former colleague has been ordered to pay compensation after a "prank gone wrong".
Elgin Sheriff Court heard that Iain Lowe (42) was buying alcohol in the wine aisle of the supermarket at around 9.15pm on July 31, 2021.
It was there that he spotted someone he thought was a former colleague.
Approaching from behind, Lowe is said to have handled the man's clothed chest.
However, when the man turned around, he realised that the shopper was unknown to him. He apologised, telling him that he had got the "wrong person".
Fiscal depute Karen Poke told the court that the shopper, who was 19 at the time, was left in a state of "fear and alarm" following the "bizarre incident" and that he was "frozen to the spot".
The entire incident was caught on CCTV.
Lowe told police that it had been a case of mistaken identity and that it was meant to be a joke.
He added that he was sorry and regretted his actions.
Defence solicitor Stephen Carty said: "Mr Lowe has worked in garages in the area as a mechanic with juvenile co-workers.
"He was surprised that it wasn't his former colleague.
"It was silly behaviour but he appreciates it caused concern and he regrets what he did.
"It was a prank that went wrong.
"It really is at the bottom end of the scale."
Lowe tendered a plea of guilty to an amended charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.
Sheriff David Sutherland ordered him to pay £150 in compensation to the complainer.
