A CUSTOMER who made inappropriate comments to a 20-year-old female shop assistant has been warned he will be sent to prison if he is involved in a similar incident.

And he's been ordered to pay her £1,000 compensation.

Jonathan Field already had a previous conviction for sexually assaulting a petrol station attendant when he committed his latest offence in the Spar shop in Lothian Road, Jedburgh, on May 13.

Jedburgh Sheriff Court heard how the 28-year-old's conduct was described as "utterly disgraceful" and "incomprehensible" and left the female "quite shaken".

Field pleaded guilty to a charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by recording the female employee on his phone, make inappropriate comments at her and kiss her on the hand.

As his name is already on the Sex Offenders Register for the offence at the Shell garage in Edinburgh Road, Jedburgh, back in August 2016 sentence had been deferred for the production of a Criminal Justice Social Work Report and a Restriction of Liberty Order assessment.

The court was told that Field's previous conviction involved going into the Shell garage late at night and groping the breast of a female staff member.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said that while the latest offence was not specifically of a sexual nature, there were similarities.

He explained: "The complainer is 20 years of age and was working behind the counter in the premises at about 9.30pm with a colleague in the back office.

"The accused came in with a friend and she knew him as a regular customer.

"He came up to the counter and started flexing his biceps and asking her to feel his muscles. "She thought he was tipsy but not drunk but was not sure what to do.

"The friend turned up at the counter with alcohol and the the staff members realised the accused was filming himself and also her with a mobile phone - he was carrying out a selfie.

"She could see her image on his phone and held her hand up to cover her face.

"He then said, 'If I could bend you over and spank you I would'."

Mr Fraser said the female felt awkward and the friend told Field to stop, saying: "You are being a creep."

Field kissed her hand and left with a friend. Afterwards the female was found by her colleague in the staff toilets crying and described what had happened.

When spoken to by police Field said he was "quite drunk" and "just joking about" but admitted he didn't think she was very happy at what had happened.

Field said it had not been his intention to upset the employee and had taken things the wrong way.

But Mr Fraser remarked: "How anyone can think it is appropriate behaviour is beyond me. It was utterly disgraceful and incomprehensible."

Defence lawyer Sophie Russell said that in the light cold light of day when her client was sober that he was "very remorseful".

She added: "When he has a drink in him he can become quite loud and inappropriate."

The lawyer said the female would have been quite shaken at what had happened.

Sheriff Peter Paterson imposed a night time home curfew at Howdenburn Court, Jedburgh, between the hours of 8pm and 5.30am as well as ordering Field to pay the female shop assistant £1,000 in compensation.

He said:"If you are back in court for an offence of this nature, the attempt to humiliate a female while under the influence of alcohol, you will go to jail.

"If you don't address your difficulties with alcohol then that is what is going to happen."