Drunk pensioners fined for terrorising hotel staff
Two drunk pensioners rampaged through a Perthshire resort hotel, forcing staff and guests to run away.
A court heard that Robert Fergus, 72, was naked when he brandished a pair of scissors in the reception of the MacDonald Loch Rannoch Hotel, where he smashed a glass pane.
His wife Ruth, 69, threatened to shoot a member of staff, forcing them to run to the nearest village.
Perth Sheriff Court fined the couple £4,100 and Mr Fergus, from Troon, was ordered to pay the hotel £800 compensation.
He admitted behaving in a threatening and abusive manner towards four staff members, wilfully destroying property and drink driving.
His wife admitted causing fear or alarm at the hotel by threatening guests and staff with violence.
The court heard that Mr Fergus went on a rampage after being woken by his wife and told that a member of staff had been rude to her.
Fiscal Depute Michael Sweeney said Mrs Fergus had threatened to shoot a staff member, Miss Titkova, who shouted at other staff and guests to run.
Mr Fergus then ran through the foyer telling staff and guests he would ‘slit’ and ‘kill’ them. His solicitor Ewan Cameron said he had ‘consumed much more alcohol than was sensible’.
After threatening staff, he cut communications cables at the hotel reception before getting into his BMW, where he was caught.
Mrs Fergus’ solicitor Pauline Cullerton said her client reacted badly to the alcohol she drank because she had eaten little all day.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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