Man fails to turn up to face racial aggravation charges

A sheriff has issued a warrant for the arrest of an Angus man who failed to appear in court on a racial abuse charge,

Scott Forrester, 23, of Lochend Road, Carnoustie, had been due to appear before Sheriff Pino Di Emidio in Forfar on Tuesday.

Forrester faces charges relating to an alleged incident in Carnoustie’s Premier Stores at Barry Road on August 31 last year. Forrester has denied possessing an offensive weapon, namely a hammer.

The charge also alleges that, on the same date, he behaved in a threatening manner by repeatedly shouting at a man and a woman there, making racist remarks, brandishing the hammer, threatening them and challenging them to fight at the premises.