An American evangelist and Christian street preacher has denied committing a breach of the peace by using homophobic language in a Dundee street.
Former Los Angeles Deputy Sheriff Anthony Miano, 49, formerly of Perth but whose address was given in court as Hogan Drive, El Valencia, California, made a brief appearance at the city’s sheriff court in front of Sheriff Kenneth McGowan and denied the charge against him.
He was granted bail by the sheriff and will appear for trial on April 22.
The court heard he is due to return to his home in California but, following the appearance, he pledged to return to clear his name at the trial.
Miano denies that, on Wednesday, at Murraygate, he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause fear and alarm and repeatedly shouted and uttered homophobic remarks.
The charges were brought under section two of the Offences (Aggravation by Prejudice) (Scotland) Act 2009 in that the offence was aggravated by prejudices relating to sexual orientation.
Public defender, solicitor David Sinclair, said he appeared for Miano and said he was denying the charge.
He told Sheriff McGowan: “I won’t be able to appear at a future hearing for Mr Miano as he has organised alternative representation in future.
“He is an American and intends to return to his home address in California. However, there is no difficulty in him returning for the trial diet.
“I would ask, though, if he could be excused from attending the intermediate diet on March 31 as he will also be in Australia in the weeks leading up to the trial, returning on April 19.”
Depute fiscal Beverley Adam said there was no objection from the Crown to that and Sheriff McGowan waived his attendance.
After the hearing, Miano said he could not comment on the particular circumstances of the charge, or of what he had said in the run-up to his arrest, but added that he had been treated well by everyone following his arrest.
He said: “The police who arrested me, those who attended to me in the cells and those at the court, they have all been very professional.
“I shall be coming back to your beautiful country of Scotland shortly before the trial. I’m looking forward to having my day in court.”
It is understood Miano was arrested after a woman made a complaint following his sermon to shoppers around lunchtime on Wednesday in Murraygate.
He was part of a street preaching team holding a week-long mission in Scotland.