Man jailed for Muslim veil attack Published duration 26 July 2010

image caption The woman was attacked and her veil ripped off outside Central Station

A man who ripped a veil from a Muslim woman's face as she walked though Glasgow has been jailed for two years.

William Baikie, 26, admitted racially assaulting 26-year-old Anwar Alqahtani by forcibly removing her niqab in the city's Hope Street on 27 April.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard how Baikie, who has previous convictions for racist behaviour, ran off but was later identified through CCTV footage.

Passing sentence, Sheriff Lindsay Wood branded the assault "shameful".

The court heard how Ms Alqahtani had come to Scotland from Saudi Arabia to study a masters degree.

'Absolute disgrace'

The 26-year-old, who wears the niqab to protect her modesty as part of her religion, was attacked as she walked to get a train from Central Station.

The force of Baikie's actions damaged Ms Alqahtani's niqab and she had to find another item of clothing to cover her.

Sentencing Baikie, Sheriff Lindsay Wood told him that what he did was an "absolute disgrace".

He said: "The offence you committed was a shameful one.