A former St Andrews University PhD student who committed a prolonged homophobic offence in the town has been fined £720.
Patrick Harding (30), of Viewfield, Argyle Street, appeared at Cupar Sheriff Court on Thursday as a result of the incident near the students’ union.
He had admitted that on October 14 last year he shouted, swore, uttered threats of violence, struggled with two other men and used homophobic language.
The offence was said to be aggravated by prejudice relating to sexual orientation.
Depute fiscal Brent Bissett said the incident occurred just before 2am, when the accused approached the men, and referred to them using abusive homophobic language.
There had been a struggle after which the men headed for home, but the accused followed them, continuing the abuse and asking them to fight.
Some of the behaviour had been monitored on CCTV cameras, and police were called.
When they spoke to the accused he refused to give his name and address and he was arrested and taken to Glenrothes Police Station.
Defence solicitor Alan Davie said Harding spent his time between Luxembourg and St Andrews, but had now obtained his PhD and wanted to find a permanent job in Luxembourg.
He said that Harding, a first offender, accepted that he had made entirely inappropriate and offensive comments, but he had been subjected to a degree of mockery from the group, including the two men.