A SALTCOATS man admitted to verbally abusing a pregnant woman in a bakery because he was tired.

Jeffrey Howe admitted behaving in a threatening and abusive manner, shouting and swearing and causing fear and alarm in Greggs the Bakers in Dockhead Street, on April 27 this year. Kilmarnock Sheriff Court heard the 53-year-old began shouting and swearing at the pregnant woman, who was looking after an autistic woman at the time, after accusing them of “staring at him”.

Fiscal Stewart McMillan told the court: “He charged at them because he believed them to have been staring at him.

“He became abusive at them and despite one woman apologising for any perceived slight on his part, she explained she was pregnant and was looking after a woman with autism.

“However he refused to calm down and staff then became involved. He still refused to stop and they asked him to leave, which he did.”

The court heard police arrived at the bakery shortly afterwards and were able to track down Howe, of Corrie Crescent in Saltcoats, who then continued his trade of abuse at them.

Mr McMillan said: “Officers came across him and he continued his abuse at them, shouting words like pr**ks, smelly b****ds and other such insults.

He continued shouting and swearing, particularly using the word “f**k.”

But Howe’s solicitor Brian Holliman said his client’s outburst was down to being tired due to looking after his wife who suffers from dementia.

He said: “He is a 53-year-old man who lives with his wife who was diagnosed with early onset dementia.

“He fully accepts that there was no justification for behaving in the manner he did, however for the last nine months he has slept very little.

“He is acutely aware when he is out with his wife, due to a lack of understanding, people often stare at them and he has acted out horribly.”

Sheriff Michael Hanlon said: “I will defer sentence for a period of six months to see whether you can be of good behaviour, if you do, I will deal with the matter relatively easily.”