A Perthshire man who played anti-Catholic songs through his computer following an Old Firm football match on Easter Sunday was fined £600 at Perth Sheriff Court.
Gareth Davies (31), of Comrie Buildings West, Drummond Street, Comrie, accessed the tunes through the file-sharing site YouTube.
He strategically placed the speakers of his computer near an open window.
Two women, who were working in business premises nearby, heard the songs, and upset by their sectarian content, they phoned the police.
Rangers supporter Davies admitted yesterday that, on April 24 at his home address, he conducted himself in a disorderly manner by using an audio computer to play songs containing sectarian content and committed a breach of the peace, and admitted that this charge was aggravated by religious prejudice.
Solicitor Alison McKay, acting for Davies, told the court her client had been watching a Rangers v Celtic match on Easter Sunday with a friend.
“They had been drinking alcohol and watching the game in this man’s house,” she said. “Following this, the men had planned to go to a local pub, but my client took the view he had drunk enough and went home alone as he was working thenext day as a painter and decorator.
“However, after being in a football frame of mind, he searched for Rangers football songs on YouTube.
“He played this within his home on his computer. The windows were open in his house as it was a warm day.
“He didn’t intend people to be offended by these songs. I have listened to these songs myself and don’t know which ones are actually sectarian.
“Certain material that someone may not findoffensive may indeed be offensive to other people, and of course that is the problem
“It is something t he Scottish Government will be tackling in the near future,” she added.
The songs were said to be about the Pope and offensive in their nature.
Depute fiscal Stuart Richardson said that two women had been working in business premises near Davies’ flat and could hear songs and looked to see where they were coming from.
“The songs were of a loyalist nature and anti-Catholic and the women were upset by these and phoned the police.”