SCALES OF JUSTICE Man boots city centre beggar in face after slur

A MAN booted a beggar in the face after claiming the homeless man called his wife a b***h.

George Neil was walking with a female past Royal Exchange Place when a passer-by saw Neil stop and kick a man sitting begging under an archway.

The onlooker called to nearby police who approached Neil immediately and arrested him.

Neil, who was drunk at the time of the offence on July 8 at around 10.55pm, told police: “He called Jackie a b***h so I kicked him.”

The 55-year-old, from East Kilbride, represented himself in court in front of Sheriff Allan Findlay.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that on that evening in question Neil had been on a night out in the city.

The beggar offended Neil’s female companion and “I wasn’t having it.”

After assaulting the other man, who was sitting down on the ground, he waited for the police to come.

Neil said: “We were heading home after a night in the town.

“The beggar asked Jackie for money and Jackie said no, so he called her a b***h.

“I wasn’t having it so I went back and kicked him.

“The police came and I stood and waited for them.”

Sheriff Findlay asked Neil about his financial situation before fining him £350 down from £500 for his guilty plea.