AN ARGUMENT over a taxi fare ended with the driver being subjected to racist abuse in Dalgety Bay.

The offences were committed by Dennis Skinner, 34, formerly of Dalgety Bay, now of Craigmyle Street, Dunfermline.

He appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted that on August 2 last year, at Lieutenant Sales Avenue, Dalgety Bay, he acted in a racially-aggravated manner towards Sadiq Mian by making racially-offensive and indecent comments to him.

Skinner had been out drinking in Dunfermline and took a taxi back to Dalgety Bay where he was living at the time.

The taxi stopped at the Co-op in Dalgety Bay for Skinner to take money from a cash machine.

However, an argument started over the change with Skinner saying the taxi driver tried to keep the change as a tip.

During the row, Skinner took the keys out of the ignition and threw them away.

His comments included: “Of course, he’s Taliban. I’ve killed your brothers and sisters in Afghanistan.” He also said: “I’ll hit you with the Quran”.

Sheriff Alastair Brown described Skinner’s behaviour as “utterly deplorable”, adding: “It was pure racism and nothing else.”

He imposed a community payback order with 150 hours of unpaid work.