An abattoir worker caught with a knife in Coupar Angus shouted “God Save the Queen” during a racist rant at a female police officer.
George Stewart launched into an obscene tirade when he heard PC Julie Hoskin’s Irish accent.
Perth Sheriff Court was told the 29-year-old erupted inside a police van and told officers: “You’re nothing but a bunch of Fenian b******s.”
Stewart, of Glenearn Court, Blairgowrie, admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner on a journey between Coupar Angus and Police Scotland’s Tayside HQ in Dundee.
He acted aggressively, shouted, swore, banged and kicked the inside of the van, and made offensive and racist comments towards PC Hoskins.
Stewart also admitted having a knife in a public place.
‘Confused and emotional’
Fiscal depute Lora Apostolova said that Stewart was spotted in Hay Street, Coupar Angus, by officers on patrol just after 1pm on June 25.
“He pulled up his jumper, exposing his stomach,” she said. “The constables saw the silver blade of a knife in his waistband.
“When asked, he took the knife out carefully and dropped it. He did not brandish it.”
The blade was described as a kitchen knife.
But the situation escalated when Stewart was placed in the back of the police van.
“The officers saw that he became confused and emotional,” said Ms Apostolova.
“He banged his head of the cage in the van. He was repeatedly asked to stop, but he refused.
“The accused became racially abusive to PC Hoskins when he released she was speaking with an Irish accent.”
Stewart told her: “F*** off you Irish c***” and “Get back to where you’re from.”
He shouted “God save the Queen” and said: “You are a bunch of f****** scumbags.”
“The tirade was directed at PC Hoskins,” said Ms Apostolova.
“When he was charged and arrested, he replied: ‘F*** you’.”
Stewart’s solicitor said his client was generally “very mild mannered” until he gets a drink in him.
“He had no idea why he had a knife in his possession that day,” he said.
Sentence was deferred until August 18 for background reports.
