Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
‘Assaults’ in shop: two staff charged
TWO staff members at Sports Direct in Dundee have been charged with attacking members of the public.
The Tele understands that an investigation was launched following an incident at the Overgate outlet earlier this year.
Now, prosecutors have charged two men, understood to have been employees at the time of the alleged attacks.
It’s alleged that Simon Johnston, 40, assaulted Steven Millar by seizing him on the body, restraining him on the ground, and kneeling on his body.
The incident is alleged to have happened at the shopping centre on February 17 and is said to have left the man injured.
During a hearing at Dundee Sheriff Court, Johnston’s address was given as c/o Sports Direct, Overgate shopping centre.
A second man has also been charged in connection with an alleged attack in the store on the same day.
James Gilbert, 25, of Cairn Road, Kirriemuir, is accused of assaulting Tracey McKenna by kicking her on the head, to her injury, at Sports Direct.
The court case has been continued without plea from either of the accused until December 16.
The Tele submitted a request for comment to Sports Direct but the retailer had not responded by the time of going to press.
A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “Police Scotland can confirm that two men were charged in connection with assaults at Sports Direct, Dundee, on February 17.
“A report was submitted to the procurator fiscal.”
The retailer has only one store in the city but in March 2015 the company — owned by tycoon Mike Ashley — revealed its intentions to build a new £5 million sports shop and gym at the Stack Leisure Park in Lochee.
In June of that year, the project was given the go-ahead and it was anticipated that the development could be finished and open by this time last year.
However, the sports firm launched a bid to have one of the conditions on its planning permission removed and entered an appeal process.
That too was given the green light and company bosses said they wanted the shop open by summer of this year.
But the project has stalled since, with Sports Direct revealing no further details about the store’s future.