Terror as boozy yob launched racist rant at Polish family

Sheriff tells him to behave – or face being locked up

A Buckfast- swilling lout yelled hateful racist remarks at a Polish family living in Paisley.

Neighbour from hell Edward Connor, 38, sparked terror for the occupants when he banged on their door and yelled “Black b******s! You shouldn’t be f****** here!” and “F****** open the door n******!”

Paisley Sheriff Court heard boozed-up yob Connor targeted the European family living at Kilnside Road, in the town’s Seedhill district, on January 30, after swigging booze in the closemouth.

Fiscal depute Margaret McCallum told the court : “At around 6.35pm the witness, Ms Parnic, entered the common close and noticed the accused to be present.

“He appeared intoxicated, was holding a bottle of Buckfast, and he fell against the wall in the close.

“She attempted walk past to get to her address, however, the accused blocked her path.

“He put his hand on her shoulder, to prevent her from entering, but she pushed past him and ran up the stairs because she felt nervous.”

The court heard Connor came up the stairs and began hammering the door and shouting racist abuse.

The fiscal added: “A witness at the close looked through the spy hole and saw the accused kicking and punching the door.

“He was shouting things such as ‘Black b******s! You shouldn’t be f****** here!’ and ‘F****** open the door n******!’

“Witnesses living at the close were placed in a state of fear and alarm and they contacted police, who arrived shortly after.”

The court was told that jobless Connor slinked off back to his own flat in the close. However he came to the door “brandishing a baseball bat” when cops visited him.

He also made further racist remarks when the yob was being processed at the police station when he called a police officer an “English c***.”

Defence agent Tony Callahan said Connor was so drunk he had no memory of causing the shameful disturbance.

He said: “He has no recollection of this incident in his sobriety. He has articulated about extremely remorseful he feels.

“He know his behaviour was reprehensible and unacceptable. His conduct was carried out while heavily under the influence of alcohol.”

The lawyer added Connor has recently suffered the breakdown of his marriage and had taken to drink to mask his depression.

Connor pleaded guilty to charges of acting in a racially aggravated manner intended to cause distress and alarm to Ms Parnic, Ms Sliwa and a 14-year-old child, all care of police.

He also blocked her path, shouted, swore and acted in an aggressive manner, repeatedly kicked and punched the door, and made grossly offensive racial remarks.

Sheriff Susan Sinclair said: “You put yourself perilously close to custody.

“But I will impose a sentence as a direct alternative to prison.”

She handed him a Community Payback Order lasting 12 months where he will be subject to supervision by the social work department. He will also perform 200 hours of unpaid work within six months.

Sheriff Sinclair added: “Breach the order and you will be sent to prison.”