Ex-soldier racially abused off-duty police officer

An ex–soldier who harassed and racially abused an off-duty police officer and her family in Glasgow has been jailed for eight months.

John Riley intimidated the woman and her family on Govanhill’s Allison Street, on October 16 last year.

After being arrested over the incident he tried to spit on police officers and told them he had coronavirus

The 41-year-old appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court and pled guilty to striking the victim’s vehicle and uttering racist remarks as well behaving in an abusive manner aggravating by religious prejudice.

The woman was with her husband and their five-month-old child when they came across Riley, who had just been released from jail that same day, standing in the middle of a road.

So she stopped and turned her car around.

Prosecutor Aimee Doran told the court: “Riley walked up the side of the car and leaned over the bonnet. Mrs Shiland noted the she could smell alcohol on his breathe.”

“He walked to the side of the car where her child was and he shouted and swore and hit the passenger side window and punched the body work of the car.”

The victim drove to the traffic lights and stopped, Riley followed her up and shouted at the driver’s side window.

He shouted: “You f****g specky b*****d, you black b*****d”

He was told to go away but continued to shout racial slurs at her.

The light changed and she drove away and reported it to the police station.

Riley was found by police later.

He fled, but after being caught, he taunted the officers about covid.

He shouted: “Coronavirus – I’m going to spit on you.”

After he was placed in the police car, he continued shouting racial slurs at the officers and head butted the back of the car.

He was taken to Govan police station and had to remain in the spit hood as he kept spitting.

Keith Tuck, defending, stated: “His behaviour was quite terrible and he fully realises it. He is ashamed of his own conduct.”

Sheriff Joan Kerr told him: “Your behaviour that day was so extreme, only a prison sentence, a long one is appropriate.”