A DRUNK Starbucks supervisor, who pinched a female colleague on the backside as she cleaned dishes, has appeared in Court.

Coffee shop boss Terry Nicol landed in hot water over his approach.

Nicol, 27, was off-duty and had spent the day drinking and watching football before dropping in at his workplace.

The supervisor thought the woman would see the funny side of his touchy-feely “banter” as she washed dishes but instead the police were contacted and he lost his job.

Nicol, of Factory Road, Cowdenbeath, appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court following the incident at the drive-through restaurant.

He admitted that on 2nd December at Starbucks, Whimbrel Place, Fife Leisure Park, Dunfermline, he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner by seizing the woman by the buttocks.

Depute fiscal, Claire Kennedy, said: “The complainer is employed as a server at Starbucks. At 7.15pm she and her colleagues were carrying out their duties when Mr Nicol entered. It was noted that he appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.

“He was at the counter and went around into the serving area where the complainer was cleaning dishes at a sink. There was a conversation between them and she moved to another sink with her back to the accused.

“She then felt him lean behind her and he pinched her on the buttocks. She told him not to touch her and shortly afterwards he left.”

Nicol’s solicitor, Sarah Meehan, said: “He was employed by Starbucks and had worked for two years at this location.

"He had been made a supervisor and the complainer had worked there for about six months.

“During that time they had struck up a friendship and would exchange flirtatious behaviour and banter as he calls it.

“That day he was not working. He had been consuming alcohol throughout the day having been at the football. He had attended there because he thought he had left belongings at his workplace.

“He says they exchanged banter and he went behind the counter. He pinched her on the buttocks, which was part of the banter and he thought she would find it funny but he misread the situation.

“She told him to get his hands off her and he did. As a result of the incident, there were disciplinary proceedings and he lost his employment.

“He acted out of character on this occasion. In his mind this was a joke that has gone wrong.”

Ms Meehan said his client had not spoken to the woman since losing his job there.

Sheriff Derek Reekie decided there was not a significant sexual element involved in the offence. As a result, Nicol was not placed on the sex offenders register.

However, the Sheriff fined Nicol £450.