Shouted homophobic abuse

A TWENTY two year old man who admitted drunkenly shouting homophobic remarks in two Lerwick pubs last autumn has been fined £150.

Ellis Birnie, of Sandveien, Lerwick, pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting, swearing and making the homophobic comments at the Thule Bar and Captain Flints on 27 September.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said Birnie had spotted some people he knew at the bar and started shouting, swearing and “making derogatory remarks about the females’ perceived sexuality”.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said his client suffered from epilepsy and diabetes, and did not always manage his diet as well as he could.

He accepts he became involved in a dispute and said “inappropriate” things.

Sheriff Philip Mann said it had been a “really stupid” thing to do and he hoped it would be a “wake-up call”.

“Look after your health and be wise enough to understand you can’t go out and abuse alcohol in this way,” he told Birnie.