News in brief

Nov 6 2008

A THUG who carried out a course of racial harassment at a Viewpark takeaway has been put on three years’ probation.

Sean Clements of McCracken Drive had told workers at the Tandoori Sizzler he ‘owned’ Viewpark and would close them down.

The 18-year-old, along with co-accused Stephen McMillan, called the workers ‘black b*******.’

McMillan, of Windsor Walk, also swung a metal bar in the direction of takeaway worker Naeem Shahid.

On another occasion, Clements threw stones at the shop and again called the workers ‘black b*******.’

Clements had admitted a charge of pursuing a course of racially-aggravated harassment on August 24 and 25 last year.

McMillan pleaded guilty to acting in a racially-aggravated manner intended to cause alarm and distress to the shop workers by shouting racist remarks and attempting to strike Mr Shahid with a metal bar.

At Hamilton Sheriff Court, Sheriff Marie Smart sentenced Clements to the probation term and fined McMillan £500.