Man who made gay hate call sentenced
A man who made a homophobic call to a former schoolmate as been ordered to carry out 180 hours of community service.
Kevin Edgar, 29, previously pleaded guilty to making a hateful call to Scott McIntosh on August 28, 2016.
Father-of-one Mr McIntosh, who was from Aberdeen, took his own life in February 2018 aged 28 after battling depression and anxiety.
Mr McIntosh came out as gay before he died. Some of his friends had claimed homophobic abuse by Mr Edgar was a factor in his death, however, prosecutors said there was no evidence to suggest a link.
Mr Edgar’s solicitor said his client has asked that he express to the court his “regret” for the “trouble this matter had caused the family”.
The solicitor said Mr Edgar, of Kirkton of Skene, Aberdeenshire, accepted “full responsibility” for the offence.
Sentencing Mr Edgar at Glasgow Sheriff Court, Sheriff Valerie Mays said it was a “nasty offence” which “caused the victim considerable upset.”
She added that Mr Edgar “knew it would cause him considerable upset”.
Official figures show that sexual orientation aggravated crime is the second most common hate crime.