A bigot who called his neighbour a 'dirty Orange b*****d' before he spat in his face has been ordered to pay his victim compensation.
Paul McNiven hurled abuse at Thomas Campbell outside his Lanarkshire home after objecting to a flag he was flying.
After the abuse a shocked Campbell, who asked the 60-year-old to leave but was left disgusted when he was spat on. Police were called and McNiven became 'hostile' towards them before being arrested.
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But as he was being led to their police car, he shouted 'I will get you, ya dirty Orange b*****d' towards Campbell and continued making the slurs as he was driven to Motherwell police station.
McNiven appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court and admitted assault and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner in Newmains in March last year.
Sheriff Linda Nicolson tagged McNiven for 29 weeks and ordered him to pay Campbell a total of £792 compensation.
Depute fiscal Chloe O'Hara told the court: "The accused was heard to shout towards his neighbour 'you Orange b*****d, get that f*****g flag down you dirty Orange b*****d.'
"The complainer also attended at the door of his property and asked the accused to leave but he refused to do so and spat on his face while continuing to shout and swear at him.
"He closed the door and contacted the police.
"At the time, another neighbour also heard the accused repeatedly shout 'Orange b*****d'.
"Officers attended and observed the accused to be in his own front garden and appeared to be heavily intoxicated."
The prosecutor added: "Police informed the accused he was under arrest and he became hostile to officers and was conveyed to a marked police vehicle where he continued to shout to the complainer."
Nicholas Nimmo, defending, said: "He is deeply ashamed of his behaviour and accepts full responsibility for it.
"He couldn't apologise to his neighbour because of these proceedings but does wish to do so as soon as possible.
"This was clearly out of character for him and he would not normally behave in this manner."
No details of the flag were given in court.
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