A YouTube prankster who was convicted of a hate crime after filming a pet dog giving Nazi salutes and putting the footage on the internet has been fined £800.

Mark Meechan, 30, recorded his girlfriend's pug, Buddha, responding to statements such as 'gas the Jews' and 'Sieg Heil' by raising its paw.

But after complaints about the content, police were called in and he was arrested for allegedly committing a hate crime by uploading the footage on to the popular video sharing website in April 2016.

Meechan, of Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, insisted he made the video to annoy his girlfriend Suzanne Kelly, 29, but was convicted under the Communications Act after a trial at Airdrie Sheriff Court.

Sheriff Derek O'Carroll found him guilty of posting a video on social media and YouTube which was grossly offensive because it was 'anti-semitic and racist in nature' and was aggravated by religious prejudice.

The original clip had been viewed more than three million times on YouTube and sparked debate over free speech with comedians Ricky Gervais and David Baddiel defending Meechan.

But Meechan has now walked free after being fined by Sheriff O'Carroll.