A pensioner has been fined £135 for racially abusing a group of Polish men – including making a Nazi salute – after they held him up from buying a bar of chocolate at his local shop.
Brian Reid appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday to be sentenced for uttering racist remarks to the three foreigners, and for verbally abusing the shopkeeper who was trying to help them.
The court heard the 65-year-old retired sea merchant threw his bar of chocolate on the ground in a temper after he “lost his patience” with the hold-up at Best One store, on Torry’s Victoria Road.
Reid, of Flat B, 5 Girdlestone Place, Aberdeen, visited his local shop on February 24 to buy his usual confectionery.
Defence agent, David Sutherland, said his client became frustrated while he waited for shopkeeper, Joseph Okonkwo, to help the three Polish men in front of him, who were struggling to speak English.
Reid asked Mr Okonkwo to ring through his “straightforward and simple” transaction, but was told to hold on.
Fiscal depute Stephanie Ross said the accused swore at the men in the queue, and was told by the shop keeper to “respect other customers”.
The court heard Reid threw his bar of chocolate on the ground and stormed out the shop, making a Nazi salute towards the Polish men as he left.
“Ten minutes later, the accused returned to the premises, opened the door and gave the complainer two fingers,” she said.
She said Reid threatened the shopkeeper, who later contacted the police, saying he knew where he was and that he would come after him.
Mr Sutherland said his client had “seen the world” while he worked as a sea merchant, and had simply lost his patience on the day in question.
Sheriff Noel MacPartlin fined Reid £135, reduced from £200 in return for his early guilty plea.