Glasgow man jailed for racially abusing a member of the public – Scotland

A man who subjected a bystander to an unprovoked tirade of racial abuse outside Glasgow Central railway station has been jailed for seven months following a British Transport Police (BTP) investigation.

Stephen Barrett, 28, and of Dunblane Street, Glasgow, appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court where he pleaded guilty to racially aggravated behaviour contrary to Section 50 (A) (1) (B) of the Criminal Law Consolidation Scotland Act 1995.

On Thursday 31 March, a judge sentenced him to seven months’ imprisonment.

A court heard how on the evening of 20 July 2021, the victim was stood with two rail workers under a canopy on Gordon Street just outside the busy Glasgow station.

Barrett then approached the trio and asked the 42-year-old victim for a cigarette – the victim politely declined, and Barrett responded by subjecting him to a barrage of racial abuse.

During his angry tirade, Barrett called his victim a “terrorist” and threatened to stab him.

Three BTP officers on patrol at the station quickly responded to the incident and discovered Barrett outside the Toby Jug pub shouting and swearing.

He was arrested in connection before being conveyed to police custody for questioning. As he was being cautioned, Barrett remarked “I’m not racist”.

BTP Constable Macdonald said: “Barrett’s criminal actions on that summer’s evening were not only revolting but caused significant distress to the victim and the public in the area at the time.

“I would like to thank the witnesses who greatly assisted us in our investigation and the courts for handing down an adequately strong custodial sentence. 

“We take incidents of hate crime extremely seriously. Behaviour where someone is targeted because of who they are or made to feel uncomfortable will not be tolerated anywhere on the railway network.

“If you’re a victim of a hate crime, please report it to us by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 – no report is too small or too trivial, we will always take you seriously.”