Scotmid shopper spared jail over mashed potato attack on store worker
A Scotmid shopper who set upon a worker with mashed potatoes has been spared jail over the attack. Peter Fergus had been warned he could be caged over the carnage.
But the 46-year-old has avoided prison over the incident, which saw him having a meltdown in the middle of the supermarket branch in Edinburgh.
The incident took place at the Restalrig Road store on March 17, 2025, and saw him smacking the worker with a packet of mashed potatoes, Edinburgh Live reports.
He pleaded guilty to assaulting the retail worker by striking him with the pack of mashed potato, lunging at him and attempting to headbutt him.
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He was warned by a sheriff he could face a custodial sentence, but returned for sentencing last week at the city's sheriff court where he was given a community payback order and a fine of £700.
Last month the court heard how Fergus entered the store on March 17, 2025, before being approached by a member of staff who asked if he required assistance.
Fergus became "aggressive and confrontational" before lunging towards him, striking him with the packet of mashed potato and repeatedly punching him on the head. The shocking incident was captured on CCTV.
Police were called and Fergus was traced a short time later. The Restalrig local pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting a retail worker engaged at the time in retail work and was told as part of his bail conditions he was not to enter the store.
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