A lorry driver who attacked a rival football fan after attending a funeral has walked free from court.

Perth Sheriff Court heard how St Johnstone supporter Craig Donald, 37, had drunk 12 pints of beer following the funeral as he watched Scotland lose 3-1 to Spain in a Euro 2012 qualifier.

He then went to a kebab shop in Perth, where he launched a tirade of sectarian abuse at Celtic fan Michael Lafferty.

The court was told that Donald called Mr Lafferty a "tattie picker" and said he would "put a bullet in his head" before punching the 19-year-old student in the face.

Donald, from the city's Tulloch Terrace, admitted carrying out the assault in Perth Kebab House on October 11, 2011.

He also admitted breaching the peace in a religiously prejudiced manner by shouting, swearing and making sectarian remarks.

Sentencing Donald, who has four previous convictions for assault, to 135 hours of community service, Sheriff Robert McCreadie told him that he would have been jailed if his employer had not stood up for him in court.

He told Donald: "I take on board that you have a good job and that not only has your employer given you a testimonial, but he is here today.

"You are saved as far as I am concerned by your job and what your employer has said about you, and to a lesser extent the relationship you have with your young son."

Sheriff McCreadie continued: "You are a man who becomes aggressive and violent under the influence of alcohol.

"It is unpleasant and unacceptable in today's society. The threat to put a bullet in someone's head is a threat which has to be taken seriously. It's a shocking thing to say."