News / Knocked out over “N” word
A SHETLAND mechanic who was knocked unconscious after calling someone “a n*****” was fined for racially aggravated behaviour at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday.
Twenty year old Thomas Gifford, of Gunnavalla, Islesburgh, Northmavine, admitted using the word as well as pointing and laughing at the man and lifting a fire extinguisher in a threatening manner.
However the court heard that Gifford was himself being provoked by the man, who had been blowing kisses at him before the incident at The Noost bar, on Lerwick’s Commercial Street, on 28 December last year.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said Gifford was not a racist, so much as “an immature and stupid fool”.
He added: “He picked on the wrong man because, to put not too fine a point on it, he got a thrashing for his trouble.”
Defence agent Tommy Allan outlined how seriously he was assaulted, waking up in a police cell later with no recollection of how he got there.
“For the next couple of weeks he had problems with his memory,” his agent said.
“He would be sitting there noticing a funny smell and only then realise he had put a pizza in the oven two hours earlier.”
Fining him £90, Sheriff Philip Mann said he had only himself to blame for the “substantial rough justice” he received.
He also fined Gifford £250 for driving around Lerwick with a Webley Nemesis air pistol in the footwell on 24 January.
He admitted committing the offence while on bail, and had the gun forfeited by the court.
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