By james art 
John Copperthwaite, 48, of South Vennell in Irvine, pleaded guilty to a number of charges and appeared for sentence at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Monday, January 20.
He admitted assaulting a member of staff and striking him on the body at Aldi in Salt Coats on March 23, 2023, as well as stealing a quantity of meat from the same store on the same day and a month later on April 22.
He admitted stealing the groceries later that year on October 10 from the Co-op in Gallowgate Street, Largs.
In mitigation, defense barrister Gordon Gee said Copperthwaite had health difficulties and that the attack occurred because his client was “quite animated”.
He said: “It was a gesture of thanks he did after asking the shop assistant where something was so he could steal it.
“The gesture of thanks was not met by the store associate, but he didn’t want anything sinister from him.”
Sheriff Morag Fraser handed Copperthwaite 18 months’ supervision and a curfew for the next nine weeks, meaning he must remain at his home from 7pm to 7am every night.