A MAN lifted up a stranger’s two-year-old child in a Port supermarket and then walked off with the toddler, it is alleged.

John Rooney is said by prosecutors to have committed the offence in the confectionery aisle of the town’s Tesco Extra store on Monday.

Rooney is further charged with threatening or abusive behaviour and also making a racial remark.

Procurator fiscal depute Lindy Scaife told Greenock Sheriff Court: “The complainer and her young child were in the confectionary aisle of the Tesco store in Port Glasgow.

“It is alleged that the accused picked up the child and started to walk away.

“The complainer is then said to have said to the accused, ‘That’s my child’ and the accused then put the child down.” Rooney, 34 – who denies the charges – is today behind bars following a brief appearance from custody at Greenock Sheriff Court.

Defence lawyer Gerry Keenan, who described the case ‘unusual’, moved for his client to be granted bail, adding: “There is nothing sinister here.” Mr Keenan said: “My client tells me that the child was walking in the opposite direction of its mother and he merely picked the child up to return it.

“The alleged racial matter concerns him having allegedly said to a member of staff, ‘You’re not even Scottish’.” He added: “Mr Rooney suffers from anxiety and depression.” Sheriff Derek Hamilton remanded Rooney in custody and continued the case.

He told him: “I am concerned about the nature of this alleged incident and I am not satisfied that it is appropriate for you to get bail.

“Your record includes a previous assault as well as public disorder and you will be remanded in custody.” Rooney, of Wallace Street, Port Glasgow, is charged with picking up and walking off with the child and of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm.

Prosecutors further allege that he made offensive remarks, one of which was racial, and say in court papers that it will be proved that the remark was racially aggravated.

Rooney is due to appear at Greenock Sheriff Court again on 2 September.

A trial hearing has been fixed for 12 September.