Drunk bigots snared by plain- clothed cops singing ‘ Billy Boys’ in city street

TWO DRUNK bigots were caught singing a sectarian song and frightening young children.

Ross Pringle, 32, and Stephen Kane, 27, were snared by plain clothed police officers last July in Glasgow’s Cardonald.

The pair were clocked singing the ‘ Billy Boys’ as well as shouting and swearing in residential streets.

They were also spotted snorting a substance before Kane was found in possession of cocaine.

Pringle and Kane were found guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner aggravated by religious prejudice.

Kane was also convicted of possession of cocaine.

Sheriff Allan Findlay said: “I don’t accept shouting, swearing and singing the Billy Boys is an everyday Glasgow scene.”

Pringle, of the city’s Penilee, was fined £ 300 and Kane, of Paisley, Renfrewshire, £ 400.

The court heard the officers were in an unmarked car responding to reports of disturbance on Tweedsmuir Road.

Officers found a Pringle wearing a white polo shirt and shorts with a topless Kane.

PC Callum Yuill, 38, said in evidence the pair were drunk, jumping about and acting in a disorderly manner.

Officers kept tabs on the pair as they witnessed them singing the sectarian chant.

Prosecutor John Bedford asked what the words were.

PC Yuill replied: “Up to our necks in f***** blood – that’s all I could hear but they sang the majority of the song.”

The pair went on to approach two young girls who PC Yuill claimed ran away after talking to them.

He said: “They were terrified absolutely terrified, they were around 10 or 11.”

Pringle and Kane were spotted taking a “substance” before officers arrested them.