A yob who racially abused his local shopkeeper because he refused him credit as he attempted to buy food and milk has been jailed.
Thirty-eight-year-old Alastair Turnbull went to Huntly Superstore in Douglas after an all-night drinking binge to buy groceries but he didn’t have enough money, Dundee Sheriff Court was told.
Fiscal depute Marie Irvine told the court the accused attended at the shop in Huntly Square and asked if he could pay for the groceries the next day.
When Turnbull was told that wasn’t the policy of the shop, he started shouting at shopkeeper Muhammed Atif, the fiscal said.
He was asked to leave the premises but refused to do so and swore and hurled racist abuse at Mr Atif.
Mr Atif called the police and they attended and traced him at the store, the fiscal added.
At police headquarters in Bell Street, Turnbull butted PC Tony Weed on the face and continued to struggle with officers.
Solicitor Anne Duffy said that the accused lived next door to the shop and was a regular customer there.
“He has known the complainer for several years,” she said. “He had been drinking quite heavily overnight and had gone to the shop for food and milk.”
Ms Duffy added: “He did not have enough money and asked if he could come in next day and hand the money in but was refused.”
Turnbull admitted that on March 11 last year, at the shop at Huntly Square, he acted in a racially abusive manner, caused fear, alarm and distress to Mr Atif, shouted and swore and refused to leave when asked to do so.
He also admitted assaulting PC Tony Weed at the police custody suite in Bell Street by striking him on the head with his head and kicking him on the body.
Sheriff George Way jailed Turnbull for six months.
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