A builder has been fined for racially abusing a shop assistant during a row over a pasty.
William McGinley appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and admitted acting in a threatening and abusive manner on March 23.
Fiscal depute Jennifer Pritchard said the 30-year-old had been working in the Bridge of Don area when he stopped at the Esso garage on Ellon Road.
She said that after McGinley entered the store, he picked up a pasty and went to heat it up in the microwave.
However, he was soon stopped from warming the food by shop assistant Viraj Obeysekra, who said he would have to pay for it first.
Ms Pritchard said that this angered McGinley and, during an exchange of words, he called Mr Obeysekra a “brown monkey”.
Representing McGinley, of Giebe Farm, Ashbury, solicitor Iain McGregor said his client had been abused first during the conversation.
He said he realised his actions were “entirely inappropriate and distasteful” and apologised for his behaviour.
Sheriff William Taylor told McGinley: “Your behaviour was completely disgraceful. We live in a tolerant country and we won’t put up with people behaving in the way you behaved.”
McGinley was fined £600.
