A GALASHIELS woman who caused a disturbance in a local chemist shop has been fined £125 at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

Deborah Morrison, 48, of Croft Street, pleaded guilty to wilfully or recklessly damaging pregnancy test kits by knocking them to the floor at Boots in Gala Water Retail Park on August 17.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser explained that the accused had not been allowed to enter the premises due to suspected shoplifting although the ban had been lifted three days previously solely to allow her to pick up prescriptions.

On the day of the offence Morrison was spotted smelling perfumes when she was only in the shop to pick up a prescription for her mother.

Mr Fraser said: "When she was told by the staff she was now banned, on her way out of the store she used her arm to clear the shelf of pregnancy tests."

Two of the pregnancy tests were damaged beyond repair at a cost of £54.

Defence lawyer Stephanie Clinkscale said her client had a prescription to collect for her mother and it had been agreed with the manager that she was able to do this.

But she added that Morrison was approached by an "officious female" and was "embarrassed" at being told she was banned.

Ms Clinkscale said: "It was not a pleasant situation but she accepts her reaction was disproportionate."

The court was told that Morrison, who receives £178 a fortnight in Employment Support Allowance, was last convicted of an offence in 2016.

Sheriff Adrian Cottam told her: "Your record is somewhat decreasing but you still have a record.

"However it is a vandalism at the lower end of the scale."

He reduced the fine from £150 to reflect the guilty plea.

A not guilty plea to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner in the shop was accepted by the Crown.