A farm worker was fined £1000 for hurling sectarian abuse at cops after telling them he’d just been attacked on a night-out.
Thomas Fairbairn told the officers he wanted to report being assaulted in Edinburgh’s city centre.
But when the 24-year-old was informed they were dealing with another incident, he aimed vile abuse at them.
Fairbairn was arrested after calling them “f****n b*****ds” and “gay c***s”.
He appeared at the city’s sheriff court and admitted a charge of threatening or abusive behaviour. The charge was aggravated by prejudice relating to sexual orientation and religion.
Fiscal depute Abbie McKerlie said the cops had arrested another person for an unrelated matter and had them in their police vehicle.
Ms McKerlie said Fairbairn approached the vehicle in the New Town’s Hanover Street at around 1.20am and asked to make a report.
The prosecutor said Fairbairn was told the officers were unable to assist due to the individual they had in custody.
The court heard Fairbairn made the sectarian and homophobic remarks. He was arrested and taken to St Leonards police station following the incident on September 5 last year.
Defence agent Joe Mooney said his client had lived a “charmed” life and was earning £30,000-a-year after studying agriculture at college.
Mr Mooney said Fairbairn was “very much in demand in the farming community” during the lambing season and also drove lorries.
The solicitor said Fairbairn used the offensive language while drinking and something wasn’t “going his way”.
Mr Mooney said Fairbairn had not been seriously injured when he was assaulted.
Sheriff Fiona Tait told Fairnbairn, of Melrose in the Scottish Borders, that the court took a “dim view of conduct like this towards police”. She fined him £1000.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
