Pensioners fined after drunken rampage at a Macdonald hotel

Two pensioners who threatened and abused staff at the 47-bedroom Macdonald Loch Rannoch hotel in Kinloch Rannoch, Perthshire, have been fined nearly £5,000.

 

Perth Sheriff Court heard how 72-year-old Robert Fergus went on a naked rampage through the hotel's reception with a pair of scissors, and his wife Ruth, 69, threatened to shoot a member of staff in an alcohol-fuelled rage, according to the BBC.

 

The couple were fined £4,100 and Mr Fergus was ordered to pay the hotel £800 compensation to cover the cost of damage.

 

Mr Fergus admitted "behaving in a threatening and abusive manner towards four staff members, wilfully destroying property, and drink driving", while Mrs Fergus pleaded guilty to "causing fear or alarm at the hotel by threatening guests and staff with violence".

 

The incident occurred just before 2am on 4 February after the couple has been drinking. Mr Fergus went to bed and was later woken by his wife who said she had been on the receiving end of hostility from hotel staff. As a result he got up and went to confront the staff.

 

Fiscal Depute Michael Sweeney said: "Both accused were acting as if they were out of control."

 

Mr Fergus smashed a glass panel in a door and threatened to "slit" and "kill" witnesses. As a result, staff and guests ran out of the hotel towards the village of Kinloch Rannoch.

 

Defending Mr Fergus, Ewan Cameron said that his client had "consumed much more alcohol than was sensible", while solicitor Pauline Cullerton representing Mrs Fergus said she had reacted badly to the alcohol she drank because she had eaten little during the day.

 

Sheriff Gillian Wade told Mr Fergus: "I don't think I need to tell you it's a very sorry state of affairs. I have no doubt you will regret it for the rest of your life."

 

Macdonald Hotels, which operates 54 hotels and resorts in the UK, Spain and Portugal, declined to comment about the case.

 

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