A shopworker chased colleagues around Tesco with two forks and a butter knife before threatening to kill them, a court has heard.
Randolph Edwards was "verbally abused" and "assaulted" by two co-workers when he "snapped" and rampaged through the Port Glasgow store with the cafeteria cutlery.
The two witnesses hid in a disabled toilet for their own safety while colleagues waited for police to arrive.
Edwards pleaded guilty to a threatening or abusive behaviour offence and possession of a weapon following the alarming incident on January 31.
A shopworker chased colleagues around Tesco with two forks and a butter knife before threatening to kill them, a court heardPAProsecutor Ashley Pollock told a sentencing hearing: "The accused walked past the two witnesses, who were also employed at the store, and made an offensive comment for no reason to the female complainer."
"An argument ensued.
"At one point the accused shouted 'I am going to kill you, I'm going to get a knife'.
"Other members of staff approached Edwards and the complainers and tried to calm things down.
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"He made his way to the canteen and returned with a metal butter knife and two forks.
"He pursued a witness around the aisles shouting 'I am going to kill you'."
Officers attended the scene and found Edwards lying in the middle of an aisle, with the items having been removed.
He was taken to Inverclyde Royal Hospital after suffering injuries in relation to another matter no longer before the court.
Officers attended the scene and found Edwards lying in the middle of an aisle, with the items having been removed
PADefence solicitor Aidan Gallagher said: "There were difficulties between himself and the male complainer who made derogatory comments to him about his appearance and presentation and about his mental health.
"Before the incident he was involved in a physical altercation with the male witness who proceeded to punch him.
"Cuts and bruises were sustained as a consequence of him being hurt.
"That seems to have been the catalyst for him going to the cafeteria; it was a reaction to what happened to him."
As a direct alternative to custody, Edwards, who is no longer employed by Tesco, was sentenced to 18 months of supervision and 180 hours of unpaid work to be completed within a year-and-a-half.