Two men sentenced for drunken rants

Categories: Latest News
Wednesday March 16 2016
The Courier reports on the trial of two men charged with a breach of the peace after their drunken antics on a yacht moored at a marina in Arbroath caused locals to call the police.
The local paper reports that Richard Hartshorne, 41 and John Sharp, 49 appeared before Forfar Sheriff Court in connection with the incident which happened on 12 July 2015.
The two men were heavily drunk and began causing a “nuisance” at the harbour which was “busy with families and tourists” at the time.
Police were called after locals protested at the two men shouting and swearing.
When police attended, Sharp became “extremely aggressive and abusive” and both men “gesticulated” at officers with their middle fingers. Sharp continued a tirade against officers.
Both men were then taken to Arbroath police station where Hartshorne launched into a “rant of racially offensive language” about people of Pakistani origin, which was captured on CCTV.
Hartshorne was said to have uttered the words “Give me a gun and I’ll do my job.”
Hartshorne admitted committing a breach of the peace and was fined £840 by Forfar Sheriff Court.
Sharp was released on bail to return for sentencing on July 7 as a criminal justice social work report is prepared.