Thug lands in court over racist rant at shopkeper
A RACIST thug shouted “n****r” repeatedly at a shopkeeper before spitting in his shop.
Alexander McElhinney had previously been barred from Food and Wine Cellar on Hillington Road South due to his behaviour.
But he returned on Boxing Day last year with his son in a visit that ended with McElhinney launching into a racist tirade.
The 49-year-old visited the Cardonald shop around 3.40pm and the shopkeeper asked him to leave.
Instead, the accused said: “Don’t give me any of your s***e.”
He then went on to threaten the shopkeeper and said: “Black b*****d. I’m going to punch f**k out of you.”
Glasgow Sheriff Court then heard McElhinney left the shop but returned almost immediately and spat on the door that leads behind the counter.
He then went on to shout “you’re a n****r” four times.
Depute procurator fiscal Imran Hussein told the court the accused then left the shop and the shopkeeper called the police, who viewed CCTV footage.
The shopkeeper picked the accused out of a line-up before the thug was arrested and taken to Helen Street police office.
His defence brief said: “This is behaviour that was clearly unacceptable.”
The lawyer said that McElhinney, of Kelhead Path in Cardonald, has behavioural difficulties and was accompanying his son to the shop, rather than making purchases himself.
He said: “Words were exchanged between the parties and regrettably my client used the words Mr Hussein has indicated.
“He is thoroughly ashamed of his behaviour.” McElhinney, who is not currently working and is receiving benefits, has recently taken his son in after the younger man was moving “from pillar to post”, the court was told.
His defence lawyer added: “He comes to court today from helping a neighbour paint her house.”
McElhinney was spared jail and instead placed on a Community Payback Order. Sheriff Daniel Kelly said: “In light of your record custody is an option but I will make you subject of a Community Payback Order for 12 months to be supervised by social work.”