Window cleaner fined for racist rant in Arbroath

An Arbroath window cleaner who racially abused an unhappy customer has been fined £200.

John Connor, 48, of Campbell Crescent, appeared before Sheriff Pino Di Emidio at Forfar.

He admitted that on December 20 at Arbroath High Street he acted in a racially aggravated manner towards a man and shouted racist remarks.

Depute fiscal Jill Drummond said Connor was a window cleaner and an arrangement was made to take on a contract at a shop in the High Street.

An agreement was reached that Connor would be paid £25 every time the windows were cleaned.

After they were cleaned for the first time, the owner said he was not happy with the standard of work and only paid £15.

Several discussions took place between both men over the following days.

At 10am on the day of the incident, Connor was cleaning windows nearby when the shop owner parked his vehicle on the High Street.

Connor said: “No wonder you drive a nice car.”

The owner was annoyed at the remark. He told Connor if he had done his job properly he would have been paid in full.

Connor told him to go back to his country and uttered a racist remark.

The man replied: “You’ll not get away with being racist,” and called police.