Drunk given community service after racist tirade

A DRUNK who launched a tirade of racist abuse against a passenger on a bus has been sentenced to 175 hours of community service.

Kevin Carson, 34, began his torrent of offensive remarks minutes after boarding the bus at Armadale, Livingston Sheriff Court was told yesterday.

Shaven-headed Carson, of Mayfield Drive, Armadale, pleaded guilty to acting in a racially aggravated manner on a bus between Armadale and Bathgate on March 24.

John Barclay, prosecuting, told the court that Carson continued shouting and swearing in the same offensive vein using the words "black b*****d".

The driver eventually stopped to calm both men down.

Mr Barclay said: "When Mr Dang got off the bus he attended at Bathgate police station and reported the matter to the police."

Neil Robertson, defending, said his client was a loner who blamed the offence on his excessive alcohol consumption.