A 20-year-old Inverness man who made racist remarks about a group of Polish youths he had confronted was sentenced to 120 hours of unpaid community work yesterday.
Ryan Park, of 4 Torvean Avenue, was found guilty by Sheriff David Sutherland after trial at Inverness Sheriff Court in January.
Defence lawyer Pauline Chapman had argued that her client’s remarks although of a racial nature, offensive and rude were not criminal but expressions of opinion and not directed at the Poles.
The court heard that Park was found by two police officers on August 30 last year at Bellfield Park bare-chested and holding a ripped tee-shirt, while one of the Polish youths was injured.
No one would tell the police what happened, and Park ran off.
When they caught him in the park, he made two comments.
When asked what had happened, he swore and made reference to their nationality.
Sheriff Sutherland also ordered Park to remain under supervision for a year and take alcohol treatment and anger management courses.
