A man drunkenly shouted racist abuse and made threats of violence towards a shop owner at his local newsagents.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard Jon Hunter, 42, had been a regular at A&R Newsagents, in King Street, Broughty Ferry, before the incident took place.
Fiscal depute Sue Ruta told the court that owner Muhammed Chaudhary asked Hunter to leave the shop at 5.45pm due to his level of intoxication.
The fiscal said: “The accused refused to leave and demanded to be shown all the tobacco that was on sale in the shop — stating that it was the complainer’s duty to show him.
“He then started making threats, saying that he could force him to shut up shop and hack his computer.
“He also said he knew where the complainer lived and made threats to him and his family.”
Hunter went on to shout racist remarks at Mr Chaudhary and told him: “I have your phone number. Start counting down the days until your shop’s shut.”
He stormed out and Mr Chaudhary reported the incident — which happened on November 3 2015 — to police the following day.
Hunter handed himself in to police on January 3 last year and told officers his actions were “out of character”.
Hunter’s solicitor Ross Donnelly said: “He is extremely embarrassed and apologetic about his behaviour.
“At the time, it was his local shop, which he used regularly.
“He has written a letter of apology and apologised in person to the shop owner and that has been accepted.”
Mr Donnelly added: “He is not a habitual drinker.
“He’d been at a party and consumed too much alcohol.
“He has no recollection of the incident but accepts the shopkeeper’s version of events.”
Hunter, of High Street, Lochee, admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting, swearing and uttering threats of violence towards Mr Chaudhary at the shop, which has now changed its name. The offence was racially aggravated.
Sheriff Lorna Drummond said: “You were drunk but that is not an excuse. I think it’s appropriate that you pay compensation.”
Hunter was ordered to pay £300 compensation at the rate of £10 per month.
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