Racist remark construction worker fined
A construction worker who made racist remarks to a female taxi driver has been fined. Graeme Britton, 25, of 17 MacBeth Road, Greenock, pleaded guilty at Campbeltown Sheriff Court to shouting, making offensive remarks, making sexualised gestures, uttering threats of damage, uttering racial remarks and running after moving vehicles in a menacing manner on Main Street and elsewhere in Campbeltown, on August 10. Shortly after getting into a taxi on Main Street, at 1am, Britton realised he had left his jacket in a pub and asked the taxi driver to take him back. The pub was closed and Britton began banging on the door, which was witnessed by police officers who asked him to leave. Britton swore at the officers before getting back into the taxi. The driver warned him about his behaviour but agreed to take him back to his accommodation. He began kicking the back of her seat and said: ‘No wonder the paramilitaries are still active.’ He made offensive remarks about Filipino children which particularly offended the driver so she drove him to Campbeltown Police Office. Britton got out of the taxi and said he was going to say the driver had touched him inappropriately. Without paying his taxi fare, the man ran back into the town centre and tried to get in another two taxis but the original driver radioed her colleagues to tell them he had caused her problems and not to accept his fare. Britton approached the driver again and said that everyone was ganging up on him. He began to make his way up Longrow where he bumped into an off-duty police officer. Without explanation, he said to her: ‘They’re all in on it.’ His behaviour caused the officer concern when he began shouting so she informed police who found Britton hiding in a storage cupboard near the Co-op. He became extremely abusive, swearing when being hand-cuffed. He admitted repeatedly shouting, swearing and making homophobic remarks at the police officer before eventually calming down. Procurator fiscal depute Eoin McGinty said that Britton had a record of previous convictions. Defence solicitor Stephen MacSporran said: ‘Mr Britton has little to no recollection of the incident. ‘It’s probably down to his alcohol intake and since the incident he has not touched alcohol. ‘His is apologetic for this nonsense.’ Imposing a £640 fine, Sheriff Valerie Johnston said to Britton: ‘Maybe you are better staying off the drink.’ She also imposed a £140 compensation order to be paid to the taxi driver.