A man who told Latvian neighbours during a street row “Don’t tell me to go away, it’s my land and I’m Scottish” has been fined by a sheriff.
William McAndrew’s Arbroath bust-up was the latest stage in an ongoing dispute which Forfar Sheriff Court heard had required the previous intervention of the authorities in an attempt to smooth things between his partner and the couple living above.
McAndrew, 56, of Brechin Road, appeared for sentencing before Sheriff Gregor Murray after admitting acting in a racially aggravated manner at Priory Crescent on February 22 by making offensive remarks to two people.
Depute fiscal Kirsten Thomson said McAndrew had been visiting his partner at the time of the incident.
“The complainers are both Latvian nationals and there is an ongoing dispute, which has been dealt with by Angus Council mediation,” said the fiscal.
“Around 6.30pm they were at home and were met by the accused’s partner and then the accused on the common path.”
Words were exchanged and McAndrew told the Latvian male: “Don’t tell me to go away, it’s my land and I’m Scottish.”
Ms Thomson added: “They tried to shut their door and heard him shout ‘You go back to your own country’.
The couple contacted police and McAndrew, who initially appeared from custody in relation to the offence, told officers: “It was just an argument that got out of hand, it was a mistake on my part.”
Defence solicitor Bill Rennie said: “The comments were perhaps at the lower end of the scale.”
McAndrew was fined £200.