Man admits making racist remark and spitting at policeman

COURT: Sheriff imposes community payback order

A Forfar man has admitted making an anti-Asian outburst towards a serving police officer from Canada.

Luke Richard Pirie, of Mary Countess Way, admitted spitting at the officer, swearing and uttering racist remarks outside the Royal Nightclub in Castle Street, Forfar, in the early hours of January 9 last year.

The court heard nightclub staff initially contacted police over the conduct of Pirie’s friend.

Depute fiscal Jill Drummond said: “The accused appears to have become involved in speaking with the officers, who were speaking to another man.

“As a result of his behaviour he was arrested.

“Due to the officers in attendance being unable to deal with the accused, as they were still speaking to another man, they called for assistance from another police unit.

“The other officers also had some difficulties with the accused which led to him being put in leg restraints and handcuffs and placed in the rear of a police van.”

The depute fiscal said one of the officers had to go back into the police van at which point the racist remark was made by the 23-year-old.

“The accused managed to place himself in a position in the van where he might have been injured if the vehicle was moving,” she explained.

“One police officer re-opened the rear cage door in an attempt to remedy this. As a result the accused spat at him and made the remark.

“The officer in question comes from Canada and has darker skin.”

Defence agent Brian Boyd made an apology to the police officer on behalf of his client.

He said: “He accepts his behaviour is wholly unacceptable.

“He and his friend had consumed alcohol. He suffers from ADHD and can have compulsive aggressive behaviour.

“His friend caused an issue in the club and was asked to leave. He was also asked to leave by association.”

Sentencing, Sheriff Pino Di Emidio said: “Police officers are not to be subjected to this kind of behaviour. Spitting is very serious.

“What I propose to do is to make a community payback order requirement to be subject to two separate requirements.

“The CPO will have a supervision requirement for one year and also unpaid work of 175 hours, restricted to 160 hours to take account of your plea.

“This will be an alternative to imprisonment.”

One police officer reopened the rear cage door in an attempt to remedy this. As a result the accused spat at him and made the remark. DEPUTE FISCAL JILL DRUMMOND