A racist man threatened to burn down an Indian takeaway and a pub – even telling the bar manager he would bite her “face off”.
Michael Masson, 27, admitted racially abusing two workers at Blue Spice takeaway in Aberdeen and also threatening the deputy manager at The Foundry Bar.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard how on March 3 this year Masson got into a heated row with a manager at The Foundry Bar when he was due a refund for £12 but claimed he was due £50.
Masson quickly lost his cool and threatened to not only burn the bar down but also bite the manager’s face.
On March 22 this year, Masson was again in the city centre when he tried to get food at an Indian takeaway and became irate on finding out it was closed.
He told one takeaway worker to go back to his “own country” and threatened to burn down their shop.
Masson also then uttered a racist slur.
Accused said ‘I’m going to burn your shop’
Fiscal depute Andrew McMann told the court that at around 12.40am two male workers at Blue Spice were closing up the George Street takeaway when Masson came in drunk and ordered food.
“He was told that they were closing and he started shouting and swearing,” Mr McMann said.
“The accused then told one of the men ‘go back to your own country’ before telling the men ‘I’m going to burn your shop’.
“Police soon attended at the locus and cautioned and arrested the accused.”
He told the woman he would “jump over the bar” and “bite her face off”, before repeatedly challenging the manager to a fight.
Masson, of the Lang Stracht, Aberdeen, pled guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and to failing to provide his details to police.
He also admitted being abusive and behaving in a racially aggravated manner while at Blue Spice takeaway.
‘It was a disgraceful incident’
Defence agent Stuart Murray told the court that it was clear his client had “issues with drugs and alcohol”.
He added: “It’s no excuse for his behaviour or conduct, but it’s the overriding issue in his life at the moment.”
Mr Murray added that Masson also suffered from learning difficulties and was on the autistic spectrum, which means he “reacts very poorly” when approached by people.
Sheriff Lesley Johnston told Masson that it was clear that alcohol “was a significant contributing factor in these offences”.
She added: “I see that you have accepted responsibility for this behaviour, but I also have to take into account the racially aggravated offence.
“It was a disgraceful incident and the complainer did not deserve to be spoken to like that.”
Sheriff Johnston sentenced Masson to a community payback order with supervision for 12 months.
She also ordered him to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.
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