A FAIFLEY teenager caught shouting racist abuse in the street has been told the best thing he could do is ‘get a job’.

Ross Smith, of Abbeylands Road, Faifley, pleaded guilty at Dumbarton Sheriff Court last week to acting in a racially aggravated manner causing alarm and distress to a man in the street.

It is the 18-year-old’s first conviction.

Fiscal depute Emma Thomson told the court at around 12.30am on December 2, a witness heard bins being kicked over.

When he looked out his window, he saw Smith and heard him shout “f*** the Polish”, “Polish b*****d” and “Polish b****”. The victim of the incident was driving down the road towards the witness and heard Smith shout “you f****** Polish b*****d” and “Polish cow”.

The police were contacted and found the victim in distress, added Ms Thomson.

Smith, later hearing the police were searching for him, turned himself in to Clydebank police office a few days later.

Defence solicitor Tom Brown said various neighbours saw the incident and seemed surprised by Smith’s behaviour. He was drinking heavily at the time.

Mr Brown said: “He finds things difficult to deal with. I’m afraid he really has buried his head in the sand on this. He cannot explain why he acted like this. There doesn’t appear to be any dispute with his neighbour.

“He is deeply ashamed of this behaviour.”

Sheriff John Hamilton ordered Smith carry out 80 hours of unpaid work within six months.

He told him: “This is a stupid and thoughtless act. You’re really not picking up the bits of your life that you need to pick up. The best thing you can do is get a job.

“This order may give you some structure and you might benefit from that.”