Drunken yob hurled racist abuse at Helensburgh restaurant's staff

A MAN who claimed to have travelled from Stornoway to Helensburgh for a job interview got drunk on gin, beer and Buckfast when he arrived – and went on to hurl racist abuse at staff an an award-winning takeaway in the town.

Graham McCulloch called staff at Annaya's in West Princes Street "F****n b******s" and "P**i b******s" – and directed the same insults at police after he was arrested.

The 29-year-old appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Friday for sentencing after pleading guilty to a charge of threatening or abusive behaviour, aggravated by racial and religious prejudice.

McCulloch, of Island Road, Stornoway, had also admitted assaulting two police officers in the incident on November 16.

Sentence on McCulloch had been deferred to enable a social worker to prepare a background report – but a sheriff at Friday's hearing said he had doubts about whether McCulloch's account of his reason for travelling to Helensburgh was true.

Emma Thomson, prosecuting, told the court: "The accused was released from Stornoway Sheriff Court on October 14 with a bail condition to reside at his bail address between 8pm and 6am.

"At 9.15pm on November 16, the manager at Annaya's takeaway and his assistant were working behind the counter when the accused entered.

"He ordered food, but had no money to pay. The manager requested that he leave.

"The accused did leave, but shouted 'F****n b*****d' and "dirty P**i b*****d" as he left.

"Police were contacted and due to the allegation of a racial incident they attended immediately.

"The accused was traced on James Street, where police approached him and told him he was under arrest.

"He began shouting at police, calling then 'F****n b******s' and saying 'you're nothing but dirty paedophiles'.

"He was taken to the rear yard of Helensburgh police office to be transferred to another police vehicle, where he again shouted 'f*****g paedophiles' and 'dirty speccy b*****d' at police witnesses.

"He also kicked two police witnesses to the legs.

"He was eventually put in a marked police vehicle and taken to Clydebank police office, where he continued to shout and swear, calling officers 'F****n b******s' and 'f*****g paedophiles'."

Sheriff Maxwell Hendry said: "The court was told something about his reason for coming from Stornoway to Helensburgh.

"It's said that he and two other men came to Helensburgh, and one had a friend they were to stay with, but I have concerns that the court was misled.

"How dim a view should the court take of this?"

McCulloch's solicitor, Luke O'Curry, said: "He had a specific offer of work; he had little other reason to be in Helensburgh.

"This was intolerable behaviour.

"He is in full time employment now. He said he was unable to get written confirmation of his appointment in Helensburgh in advance."

Sheriff Hendry replied: "It's not whether he was seeking employment; it's whether that was why he was in Helensburgh.

"According to the social work report, on his way to a job interview he drank beer, Buckfast and two bottles of gin; one doubts whether the interview would have been successful.

"The comments to the takeaway personnel are inexplicable."

Mr O'Curry said: "He apologised wholeheartedly to the proprietor of the takeaway.

"He has very little recollection of his interaction with police. The police assaults, while intolerable, are, I would submit, at the lower end of the scale, having taken place outwith the gaze of the public.

"The comments made to the takeaway staff are of course intolerable, but I would submit they should not merit him being returned to custody, given that he has secured employment."

Mr O'Curry said McCulloch had had his bail curfew varied by the court in Stornoway in order to enable him to attend Friday's hearing in Dumbarton, and said his client deserved credit for making the journey south despite his employment and family commitments, at his own expense, "to face up to his actions".

Responding to the sheriff's view that McCulloch "deserves to go to prison", Mr O'Curry said: "This is very poor behaviour. But he is not a young man without hope, and when he is focussed he is able to achieve stability and a position of being a constructive member of society.

"When he is intoxicated, he behaves in the manner that has brought him to this court.

"If he is able to return to Stornoway of his own volition today, he is a very lucky man."

Sheriff Hendry told McCulloch: "This was intolerable behaviour. I'm sure it wouldn't be tolerated in Stornoway, and it's not going to be tolerated here."

Instead of a prison sentence, however, McCulloch was handed a community payback order which will see him supervised by social workers in Stornoway for two years.

He was also told to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work – reduced from the maximum of 300 because of his guilty plea – within 12 months.

In addition, three conduct requirements were imposed, under which McCulloch must take up a place at a residential rehabilitation project in Stornoway as soon as one is available, must attend a recovery support service in his home town, and must not consume alcohol at any time during the whole length of the order.

Sheriff Hendry added: "If you fail to comply with any requirement of the order, you will be breached; if you're in breach, it's likely the order will be revoked; and if it's revoked, I predict it's very likely that you will go to prison."

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