Customers in a Dollar store were shocked when a stranger suddenly appeared claiming he had a machine gun in his car.

Shezed Ali made threats about shooting people “if he didn’t get his wife back”.

Ali, 30, of Lyninghills, Forfar, appeared in the dock at Alloa Sheriff Court.

He admitted that on April 10 at the Co-op store, Bridge Street, Dollar, he shouted, swore, acted in an aggressive manner and made threats of violence.

Depute fiscal Rachel Wallace said Ali had gone into the shop and was initially asking customers for directions.

He then left but re-entered shortly afterwards shouting that “he had a machine gun in the boot of his car and he’d shoot people if he didn’t get his wife back”, added the depute.

The court was told Ali had no particular reason for being in Dollar. He was looking for his wife and had heard she may in the Kinross area.

Sheriff Neil Bowie said: “This would have been a very concerning incident for members of the public to hear someone saying they have a machine gun.”

He called for reports and Ali will be sentenced on December 7.