Teenager sentenced for racist assault on neighbour

A Fife teenager, who punched his 30-year-old neighbour and vandalised his car in a racist incident, has been sentenced.

Christopher Roberts (18), of Rosewell Drive, Lochore, previously admitted that on 23rd June at Rosewell Drive he assaulted the man by punching him on the face.

He also admitted vandalising a car by kicking and punching its wing mirrors and acting in a racially aggravated manner to the victim by shouting racist abuse at him.

The unemployed thug shouted, “F*** you, you P*** b******”, Dunfermline Sheriff Court was told.

Depute fiscal Jade Doig said the victim had gone out of his home after hearing a “commotion” in the street.

He saw Roberts coming towards him and as he passed by he punched the wing mirror of the man’s car, smashing it and cutting his hand in the process.

The neighbour shouted at him, asking him what he was doing. Roberts apologised and said he would pay for the damage.

However, shortly afterwards there was another “heated” conversation with the complainer.

“He shouted ‘F*** you, you P*** b******’ and punched the complainer on the left side of his face,” added the depute.

Roberts then kicked the other wing mirror of the same car before running off.

When later detained by the police, Roberts said he was sorry for his actions. “I’m more sorry for being racist than anything else,” he told officers.

Defence solicitor Linsey Magro said, “He had been out with friends drinking and he had blacked out. He can’t remember anything.

“He has issues with his temper and with alcohol.”

Sheriff Derek Reekie told Roberts, “You are a young man and here you are again before the courts. If this is an emerging course of conduct that continues you will lose your liberty at some point.”

He imposed a community payback order with 160 hours of unpaid work and ordered him to pay £200 compensation.