A man racially abused and threatened Thai rail passengers for speaking their own language on a train from Dundee.
Gavin Laing repeatedly told the two people sitting across the aisle from him to talk in English as they conversed in their native tongue.
He claimed at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court mixing booze and medication may have caused his behaviour.
Procurator fiscal depute Eve McKaig said one of the victims asked Laing to leave them alone but a short time later he stood up and said: “If you guys want to speak in your own language that’s fine but I will batter f*** out of you”.
Other passengers in the carriage heard the abuse and 47-year-old Laing was asked to move seats.
The fiscal depute said when he finally agreed to do so, he started swearing and at one point said: “Asked to move in my own country.”
Ms McKaig said in part of the incident captured in mobile phone footage Laing could also be heard saying: “I will see you when I get off the train”.
The incident took place on board the Aberdeen to London King’s Cross service, between Dundee and Kirkcaldy, on August 14 last year.
Laing, of Garvald Street in Edinburgh, pled guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by repeatedly swearing, uttering threats of violence, acting in an aggressive manner and making racist remarks.
Court papers state the offence was racially aggravated under Section 96 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.
‘I’m not a racist’
Defence lawyer David Cranston said Laing is ashamed and does not properly recall the incident.
The solicitor said his client had travelled to Dundee to attend a football match with his son.
Mr Cranston said: “He’s been there probably less than an hour and had a couple of pints and felt rotten.”
The lawyer said his client claimed he did not recollect events after this.
He spoke to his partner at some point during the journey home and she reported him making “no sense whatsoever”.
Mr Cranston said Laing’s mental health had been poor in recent years after his eldest daughter died and he thinks maybe he had suffered a reaction from mixing medication and alcohol.
Mr Cranston said: “He is very keen to accept responsibility.
“He tells me he is not a racist and is appalled to hear what the Crown said about his behaviour on this occasion”.
The solicitor said Laing, a father of four, leads an ordinary life and works as a data and electrical engineer for a firm in Glasgow.
Mr Cranston said Laing had previously offended in Dundee but had moved to Edinburgh to get away from that.
Sheriff Ian Anderson told Laing: “I’ve taken into account you have not been in trouble for quite a long time, although you do have a history of offences which in some respects are not too dissimilar”.
Sheriff Anderson fined Laing £500.
