Unofficial Rangers podcaster David Limond has been found guilty of a religiously aggravated breach of the peace after targeting a journalist as “Taig of the day” on his online radio show.

Guilty: David Limond uses this picture of himself on social media

The 41-year-old was convicted at Ayr Sheriff Court on 6 December following a two-day trial. Sentence was deferred until 9 January, and Sheriff Scott Pattison told Limond he was “strongly considering” a custodial sentence.

During a broadcast in September 2012, Limond, also known as Glasgow Limmy, featured journalist Angela Haggerty – who had just edited a book about Rangers’ financial collapse and is currently a reporter with The Drum – as “Taig of the day” on his Rangers Chat programme, and encouraged listeners to abuse her on Twitter.

‘Taig’ is a derogatory term used to describe Irish Catholics in Northern Ireland and Scotland.

When giving evidence in court, Haggerty described her shock at being deluged with a stream of abusive tweets on the evening of 20 September 2012, and said she contacted police the following day.

The incident went on to be featured in a Channel 4 News report about intimidation of journalists and other figures involved in covering the story of Rangers’ financial problems throughout 2012.

Haggerty said: “I’m pleased with the verdict and relieved that things have been concluded.

“There were many attempts throughout the Rangers financial crisis to silence journalists on the story, and this was just one of those forms of intimidation.

“While social and online broadcasting technology has been a great development in new media, those tools can be very easily abused and the effect it has on people’s lives shouldn’t be underestimated.”

Sheriff Pattison banned Limond from using Twitter while he is on bail, and he was told not to attempt to contact Haggerty.

Limond, who claimed his podcast was humour, is the brother of comedian Brian Limond, the man behind the BBC’s ‘Limmy’s Show’.