Man who'd been suspected of stealing booze from a supermarket set off the store's fire extinguishers

Daniel Middleton ran to the upper level of Tesco in Greenock and grabbed a pair of flame-fighting devices and unleashed their contents.

Middleton also triggered the store's fire alarm during his late night antics.

The 37-year-old has now been warned that he's facing the prospect of a further 'significant custodial sentence' if he can't behave himself.

Prosecutor David Glancy told Greenock Sheriff Court: "It was 11pm and Tesco was open and trading.

"A security guard was at the entrance and there was some dialogue between him and the accused for reasons that do not concern the court.

"He was at the foyer at the front of the store and he started to be a nuisance.

"The accused went to the upper level and he picked up two fire extinguishers and set them off.

"He exited the first floor via a fire door and that triggered the fire alarm."

Fiscal depute Mr Glancy added: "Police were contacted and officers located him sitting in a lift.

"He was told to put the extinguishers to one side and he was immediately handcuffed and removed."

The Telegraph told late last year how Middleton was sentenced to 200 days imprisonment.

He'd been intoxicated on so-called 'street valium' when he spat on a man who challenged him about booting the wing mirror off his car at Old Inverkip Road last August.

The Tesco offence occurred before that incident, in March.

Sheriff Derek Hamilton remarked: "It just shows that his behaviour has not improved."

Defence lawyer Charles Drummond said: "Sentence was deferred for good behaviour on October 16.

Sheriff Hamilton told Middleton: "I consider this to be a a serious offence.

"I will defer sentence for you to be of good behaviour.

"However, if you are not of good behaviour you will receive a significant custodial sentence.

"I make no promise of an admonition here."

Middleton, of Regent Street, is due back in court on the matter on October 2.