UHI student posted rascist comments on Facebook
A STUDENT at the University of the Highlands and Islands who posted racist comments about Muslims on Facebook has ben ordered to carry out 90 days of community service.
Sheriff Mark Stewart QC heard at Inverness Sheriff Court today that David Brown made the comments in March which were seen by two people on Facebook.
Sheriff Stewart asked if the people who saw the comments were known to Brown but depute fiscal Stewart Maciver said only one of them knew Brown from college and was a Facebook friend. The other person could see the comments when they appeared.
The fiscal said there was a conversation on Facebook and Brown’s postings were abusive towards Muslims accusing them of supporting “Jihadi scum”.
The fiscal said: “When charged by police with the offence Brown replied: ‘F.... Muslims and Jihadis. They should all be shot’.”
Brown (40) of Old Steading Road, Inverness, admitted on March 30 at Old Steading Road, at a cinema in Inverness and addresses in Portree and Broadford, sending by social media racist messages to Ryan Hunter and Sophie Morris, which were offensive, abusive and menacing.
Solicitor John MacColl said 40-year-old Brown was attending an introductory course to engineering at college in Inverness which is part of the UHI.
He said he also worked part-time at the local football stadium every fortnight.
Mr MacColl told Sheriff Stewart that Brown made his first post which he thought had a degree of humour - a reference to a Jihadi extremist forgetting to set the alarm clock on his suicide vest.
“He thought it was funny. But he didn’t think through the consequences of his rant.”
Mr MacColl said this started a conversation between him and one of the complainers and the other complainer had made comments on Facebook about it.
Sheriff Stewart told Brown he got the impression he was not particularly remorseful about his actions.
“You have to understand, whatever your views are, this form of characterisation is entirely unacceptable.”
The sheriff said looking at Brown’s record he thought this type of behaviour was behind him but he noted he had a breach of a community payback order in 2011.
“More than a financial penalty is needed.”
He sentenced him to 90 hours of unpaid work as a direct alternative to custody.
