Inverness man receives three-figure fine for racist abuse after confrontation over litter
A non-smoking neighbour was angered when challenged about cigarette ends being deposited in the garden of an Inverness house nearby.
Kyle McQueen was walking home to his Dalneigh Road property on September 2, 2023 when one of the other residents in the block of flats wanted to speak to him about the litter.
Fiscal depute Adele Gray told Inverness Sheriff Court: "He appeared angry and intoxicated and brandished a glass bottle at the woman and her husband who had joined her.
"Later that day, he was at his window shouting and swearing what they thought was in their direction and called them 'Romanian pieces of s***.' "
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Defending, Clare Russell told Sheriff Neil Wilson: "I have been involved in other cases where this couple were the complainers. They no longer live in the neighbourhood and my client has no problems with other neighbours.
"He accepts he didn't cover himself in glory but he doesn't smoke and couldn't understand why they wanted to speak to him about cigarette ends as he walked home having bought his partner a bottle of Prosecco.
“He doesn't view himself as racist."
McQueen admitted racially aggravated threatening or abusive behaviour and was fined £290.
