Smithton man jailed for race hate outburst
Published on Thursday, 25 October 2012 10:54 Written by Highland News
A SMITHTON man who shouted racial abuse at a man in an Inverness takeaway was jailed by a sheriff who told him he should be “ashamed of himself.”
William Gillespie (26), of Sinclair Park, shouted the remarks to Tanveer Siddique in front of police officers at Max’s 2 on Lombard Street, shortly before breaking a wing mirror on their police vehicle as he was led away.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard how the race hate incident kicked off after officers entered the fast food outlet at around 8pm on September 28.
Depute Fiscal Heather Swan told the court Gillespie was within the premises as police officers were being informed about a matter that had allegedly taken place earlier involvingby Mr Siddique.
She said that at this point, Gillespie asked police: “Are you going to believe this Paki?”
As police then began to handcuff him, he shouted at Mr Siddique, calling him a “Paki b******”.
The fiscal explained he then went onto to become aggressive, striking the wing mirror.
Defence agent Craig Wood said Gillespie, who is single, had been remanded in custody since October 2.
He said Gillespie is the first to admit that drinking has caused him trouble, and said on that particular day he had taken alcohol on top of diazepam and only had a vague memory of the incident.
He added he knows he has to stop drinking and has received help at Osprey House rehabilitation centre in Inverness in the last two years.
Gillespie pleaded guilty to acting in a racially aggravated manner which caused, or was intended to cause alarm and distress, to Tanveer Siddique by uttering racial remarks at Max’s 2, Lombard Street, Inverness, on September 28, while on bail.
He further admitted twillfully or recklessly kicking the rear-side wing mirror fitted to a police carmotor vehicle, causing it to break, also at Lombard Street on September 28.
Sentencing Gillespie to 45 days in prison, backdated to October 2, Sheriff Ian Abercrombie told him: “We pride ourselves in having an open and tolerant society. You should be ashamed of yourself.”
Credit: Highland News