A former Navy man has escaped punishment after shouting a homophobic slur at Prohibition bouncer in a row over jackets.
Ramsey Forbes had been drinking with friends in the popular Aberdeen nightspot when the incident happened in the early hours of the morning.
The 25-year-old had been outside having a cigarette when door staff began clearing the bar to close for the night.
A row broke out when the group tried to get back inside to collect their jackets, with Forbes branding one man a “f****t bouncer”.
Fiscal depute Dylan Middleton told Aberdeen Sheriff Court the incident happened at 3.05am on November 20.
‘He’s a man who’s been trained to keep control and he lost it’
He said: “The complainer and other door staff were facilitating the closure of the premises and ensuring patrons left in a timely manner.”
A row broke out and Forbes was being restrained by staff when he turned to the complainer, who had hold of his arm, and shouted “f****t bouncer”.
The incident was witnessed by nearby police.
Forbes, of Pitstruan Place, Aberdeen, admitted a charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner aggravated by prejudice relating to sexual orientation.
Defence agent Gregor Kelly said: “He’s let himself down badly on this occasion.”
He added the offence was “out of character” for Forbes, who had served in the armed forces “with distinction”.
Mr Kelly went on: “He and friends had been out enjoying a convivial evening.”
The solicitor said the group had all been drinking in the busy bar and stepped outside while one of them had a cigarette, leaving their jackets inside.
One of them tried to go back in to retrieve the jackets, which contained wallets and keys, but a row broke out when he was not allowed in.
‘He wishes to apologise to the doorman’
Mr Kelly said the bouncer was “pretty rough” and restrained Forbes with his hand behind his back.
He said: “He lashed out verbally and made the comment, which clearly he shouldn’t have.
“He’s a man who’s been trained to keep control and he lost it.
“He wishes to apologise to the doorman.”
Mr Kelly said his client had now left the Navy and was working as a waiter.
He said he was “unlikely to be before the courts again”.
Sheriff Morag McLaughlin acknowledged a “glowing reference” from the Royal Navy and told Forbes: “I rather expect appearing in court is something you will not be doing again.”
She admonished him, meaning the conviction goes on his record but he does not face any additional punishment.
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