News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A dad launched into a foul-mouthed racist rant against an Eastern European man at a children’s birthday party.

Joseph Crombie grabbed bar manager Rafal Czech by the shirt and pushed him towards a wall because he thought he had assaulted his son, a court heard .

But the functions manager had not kicked Crombie’s son but was simply stamping on a water balloon to stop children at the party throwing it.

Livingston Sheriff Court was told that the 35-year-old poked the innocent bar manager in the chest and shouted at him: “Baldy, b*****d c**t!”

He also branded Mr Czech “baldy c**t immigrant” before telling him: “Go back to your own country”, Livingston Sheriff Court was told.

(Image: Google)

Crombie appeared shame-faced in the dock yesterday after learning that he had completely misunderstood the situation.

Alistair Macleod, prosecuting, said Mr Czech had repeatedly assured the accused that he had not been trying to kick his son.

But Crombie, who had been drinking, continued to accuse him before threatening him and physically attacking him .

Crombie pleaded guilty yesterday to two racially aggravated charges of assault and breach of the peace.

He admitted using racially offensive language and shoving Mr Czech at the Deer Park Golf and Country Club in Livingston, West Lothian, on 23 July this year.

Iain Smith, defending, said Crombie had obviously misconstrued what Mr Czech had been trying to do.

(Image: Crawford Brown)

He said: “It looked to him as if the bar manager tried to kick his son. In the cold light of day he accepts he was trying to stamp on a balloon.

“He’s indicated to me he lost his temper. He apologises to the court and to the manager for his behaviour.

“He’s ashamed of himself and he regrets all of his actions. He doesn’t attribute any blame to the manager at all. He just accepts it was a misunderstanding.”

Sheriff Douglas Kinloch fined Crombie £500 and gave him two months to pay.

He told the accused: “You lost your temper and, no doubt partly because you had been drinking, you behaved in what I’m afraid was an offensive and wholly objectionable manner.

“Anyone at the party who witnessed this would have had their enjoyment spoiled to some extent I’m sure.

“There was a racial element to this. You can’t behave like this at events like that.”