AN IRVINE man who racially abused a bus driver during a drunken tirade has been fined.

Paul Drysdale, of Braehead, Girdle Toll, abused the man at Kilmarnock Bus Station on February 28.

He admitted behaving in a racially aggravated manner by shouting, swearing and uttering racial remarks.

Kilmarnock Sheriff Court heard last week how Drysdale was ejected from a bus shortly before the offence occurred.

He was described as being heavily under the influence of alcohol and attempted to board another bus at the station to return to Irvine.

But he was immediately told he wouldn’t be getting on this bus, or indeed any other, by the driver.

It was at this point where a furious Drysdale would begin his racist vitriol.

Drysdale told the driver to “f*****g hurry up and leave” before calling him an “English b******”.

He also stated that he was Scottish and deserved to board that bus or any bus he wanted to.

Police were contacted but Drysdale refused to go quietly.

He resisted the two officers in the execution of their duty by struggling violently with them.

Drysdale appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week and pled guilty.

Defence solicitor Paul Gallagher said Drysdale was “ashamed” of his actions.

Mr Gallagher admitted that Drysdale made “completely no sense” during his comments and insisted the driver “clearly did nothing wrong”.

He added that it was Drysdale’s belief that the booze-fuelled episode was a “one-off”.

Presiding Sheriff Derek Livingston was unimpressed with Drysdale’s behaviour.

He said: “People going about their work are entitled to do so and not put up with this sort of abuse.

“I have no doubt that he found this to be a very unpleasant experience.” Drysdale was fined £200 and ordered to pay the bus driver £200 compensation.