Sectarian abuse lands man with fine

Feb 25 2010 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A MAN who shouted sectarian abuse at his neighbours and then damaged their car has been fined.

Livingston Sheriff Court heard this week that a couple living on Limekilns Grove in East Calder heard shouting at around 9.15pm on December 27 last year.

They looked outside to see Gavin Smail coming out a taxi.

When Smail saw his neighbours at their window he began to shout sectarian abuse.

The sheriff court was told that the couple told the 50-year-old to go away and leave them alone but he continued to shout and swear and gave them a tirade of abuse.

Their car was parked in the driveway and they saw Smail continually hit their driver’s side wing mirror until it came off.

Smail then threw the wing mirror on the ground and smashed it.

This week Smail, whose address was given as Limekilns Grove, East Calder, pled guilty to causing a breach of the peace aggravated by religious prejudice and also admitted causing damage to his neighbour’s car.

His solicitor, Elaine Brunger, said: “He is a man who finds himself mortified and ashamed at being in court.

Fining Smail a total of £500 and ordering him to pay compensation to his victims Sheriff Alan Millar said:

“I am going to deal with this by imposing fines which will reflect the nature of your behaviour on this occasion.

“They will be £250 on each charge and £50 of each fine is in respect of the religious prejudice. I will also impose a compensation order on you for £250 for the damage caused to the car.”