By Rory Cassidy

AN East Renfrewshire man armed himself with knives and body armour for the “war” with Muslims he believes is coming.

David Kerr also spouted bile about Catholics, Protestants, Jews and the Irish in front of shocked members of the public.

He threatened to kill Catholics and Muslims and burn down churches in a rant while on a bus in August last year.

And, in January, he made inappropriate remarks about Catholics, Protestants, Jews and the Irish to a woman in the street.

Police investigating his shameful antics went to his home on January 10.

And, once inside, Kerr showed them a drawer full of knives and body armour he had bought, saying he’d gathered the items in preparation for the war he believes is coming.

He was arrested and charged, pleading guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting threats of violence against Catholics and Muslims while on a bus in Clarkston Road, Glasgow, on August 16, 2016, in breach of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010.

Kerr admitted breaking the same law on January 6 this year by making inappropriate remarks to Francis Carruthers about Catholics, Protestants, Jews and the Irish in Busby Road, Clarkston.

He also admitted both offences were aggravated by religious prejudice.

And Kerr pleaded guilty to a third charge of acting in a racially aggravated manner which caused or was intended to cause alarm and distress to four police officers in his home on January 10 by showing them his weapons and armour stash.

Kerr admitted breaking the same law on January 6 this year by making inappropriate remarks to Francis Carruthers about Catholics, Protestants, Jews and the Irish in Busby Road, Clarkston.

He also admitted both offences were aggravated by religious prejudice.

And Kerr pleaded guilty to a third charge of acting in a racially aggravated manner which caused or was intended to cause alarm and distress to four police officers in his home on January 10 by showing them his weapons and armour stash.

He admitted his guilt at an earlier Paisley Sheriff Court hearing, with sentence deferred for background reports from social workers and psychiatrists.

Procurator fiscal depute Frank Clarke said the incident on the bus involved Kerr saying phrases such as “kill the Catholics and all the Muslims, burn the churches.”

He was reported by a Muslim woman who was on the bus.

The second racist incident took place when Kerr was in Boots the chemist in Busby.

He sat next to a woman on a seat in the store and then stood next to her a short time later when she was waiting for a taxi outside.

Kerr made comments about Catholics, Protestants, Jews and the Irish, leaving her so uncomfortable that she called the police.

Officers later attended Kerr’s home in Busby and he showed them his ‘war drawer.’ Mr Clarke explained: “In the presence of police officers, he ranted - this was the word used by police officers - stating ‘all the Muslims entering the country, we are going to war over this, look how serious I am.’

“At this point, he opened a drawer, revealing to police officers body armour and knives.”

Defence solicitor Paul Lynch asked for leniency for Kerr, pointing out that his mum had died on January 2 this year and he had been affected by her passing.

Sheriff Susan Sinclair opted to spare Kerr jail, instead placing him on a 12-month Community Payback Order which will see him supervised by social workers he is already working with.

As she did so, Sheriff Sinclair said: “He may be entitled to these views but he’s not entitled to express them - that’s the problem.”