A RACIST who told a sweeper at Ayr bus station to "go back to where you came from" has been given unpaid work hours as punishment.

Drongan offender Matthew Halford admitted a charge of threatening or abusive behaviour after the incident on September 22 last year.

The 51-year-old, of Lane Crescent in the East Ayrshire village, pleaded guilty to causing fear and alarm - aggravated by racial prejudice - when he appeared at Ayr Sheriff Court last week (Tuesday, October 29).

A prosecutor told the hearing: “At 8.30pm police officers attended the locus on an unrelated matter.

"Police constables observed the accused pointing and gesturing aggressively to an unknown male sweeping the concourse. 

“He was heard shouting ‘f*****g go back to Poland' in the direction of the man sweeping. 

“Police observed this and approached the accused shouting 'go back to where you came from' and 'black b*****d' again at the same individual sweeping.

"At this time the station was busy with members of the public.  

"He made no reply to caution or charge."

Defence solicitor Rebecca Horton said: “He was detained under the Mental Health Act at Woodland View.  

“He has been extremely honest and open with me today, his alcohol use very much fluctuates. He would welcome support in a community-based disposal."  

Sheriff Maria Kicinski placed him on a community payback order for 12 months with 80 hours of unpaid work.