An Inverkeithing man has been sentenced to four months’ imprisonment for frightening train passengers and staff as he returned home from his work abroad.
Mark Rennie (27), of Bannerman Avenue, admitted that on January 22, at Leuchars railway station and on board a train travelling from Aberdeen he behaved in a threatening and abusive manner, repeatedly shouted and swore and the offence was aggravated by prejudice towards sexual orientation.
Cupar Sheriff Court heard the incident happened in the first class area of the Aberdeen to Edinburgh train.
Smelling of alcohol, Rennie sat and engaged other passengers in conversation and produced a bottle of whisky.
One passenger put on headphones to try to block out the noise from him speaking loudly. Another conversation started friendly then became sarcastic.
A train steward brought glasses for Rennie. When told there was no ice available the accused and his companion started to abuse the steward, making a remark about a ”faggot”.
He later started swearing at the conductor, making the other passengers ”uncomfortable and intimidated” so much so they moved to another area.
The conductor had to reassure the passengers and steward who was fearful for his safety, for the safety of the conductor and himself, the court heard.
Rennie then said he would ”smash” anyone who came through the doorway to the first class area or out of the train’s cab.
Police were waiting to meet the First ScotRail train at Leuchars.
An agent for the accused said Rennie had been working in Nigeria for eight weeks and was returning home when the incident took place. He and his companion, who had boarded at Aberdeen, had consumed alcohol, to ”let their hair down”.
”This incident made him much more aware of the impact of alcohol on him. He wishes to stress he was not homophobic he made the comment without thinking about the meaning of the word and had not given full thought to the impact of the word he used,” she said.