Sailor admits racial remarks in innerleithen

David Williams pleaded guilty to making offensive and racial remarks in Innerleithen High Street and in a police vehicle en route to Hawick police station on October 5.

Selkirk Sheriff Court was told that police officers on mobile patrol in Innerleithen noticed a group of men arguing outside its unionist club.

They pulled over to speak to Williams, of Burnside Gardens, Clarkston, Glasgow, but he became aggressive and accused them of not showing him the respect he believed he merited because he is in the Royal Navy.

He then told them they should be concentrating on arresting ‘Pakis’ and ‘terrorists’ rather than him.

Pointing out that a criminal conviction for such an offence could affect his military career, his lawyer asked if an admonition could be imposed instead.

Sheriff Raymond McMenamin said he would defer sentence for three months for good behaviour and the matter would be looked at again when it recalls on April 6.