A DUNFERMLINE man racially abused a beggar outside of Kingsgate Shopping Centre and called him a terrorist.

Paul Reid, 39, of New Row, was so agitated that he believed the man had a bomb in his bag.

Depute fiscal Azrah Yousaf said the victim is of Romanian descent and regularly sits looking for donations in Dunfermline town centre.

At around 4pm Reid appeared intoxicated and was noticed by passers-by pacing and pointing at the beggar.

He then started asking the man if he was a terrorist, saying that he had a bomb in his bag.

Witnesses in the area tried to calm Reid down but he then turned on them saying he was going to kill them whilst placing his finger across his throat.

Reid appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court last week after admitting that, on March 23 at High Street, he did act in a racially aggravated manner which caused or was intended to cause alarm and distress to person in that he did stand over him and shout racist remarks.

He also admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner which was likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm by uttering threats of violence and make threatening gestures towards other men.

Defence solicitor Alexander Flett said: "Mr Reid has had problems for a significant amount of time with alcohol but he had taken steps to address it.

"He had relapsed and he does not recall with any clarity the incident but accepts he did what was said."

Sheriff Craig McSherry fined Reid £600.