The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Man told court will not tolerate racism
A Dundee man who was warned the court would not tolerate racism has admitted racially abusing takeaway staff for the second time in 18 months.
Joel Justice behaved in a raciallyoffensive manner towards staff at Marco Polo on Hawkhill on November 30.
Later that day he continued to make racially-offensive remarks at police headquarters on Bell Street.
The 25-year-old, of Bellefield Avenue, pled guilty to two charges of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause fear or alarm.
He had initially denied the offences but changed his plea during a trial hearing at Dundee Sheriff Court yesterday.
The court heard that Justice was currently subject to a Community Payback Order for an analogous offence.
On April 29 2016, he shouted “go back to your own country” and “you treat your wives like slaves” at two staff members in the Curry Junction in Dundee’s Perth Road, later claiming it had been “banter”.
Despite his tirade, he remained on the premises to eat his meal and did not notice the victims had called the police, with officers finding him casually eating at the counter when they arrived to take statements.
At the time, his defence solicitor John Boyle admitted his client held some “misguided views”, but added that a serious alcohol problem had contributed to his actions.
Sheriff Alastair Brown had warned him: “It needs to be understood very clearly that this sort of racist abuse has never been something that this court will tolerate.
“This kind of behaviour has been roundly rejected by the Scottish Government and is rejected by this court.
“Anyone who indulges in it will be dealt with seriously.”
Sentencing for the latest offences was adjourned until April 17 for social work reports and a restriction of liberty order assessment.
Justice’s bail was continued in the meantime.