A MAN who was filmed making racist comments towards a woman on a train in Glasgow has avoided a prison sentence.

David Hill, 59, was on board a Glasgow Central to Manchester Airport service at around 4.50pm on January 15 this year, with co-accused Robert Elliot.

The pair had attended Elliot’s mother’s funeral and were heading back home to Blackpool.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that the offence was recorded by Elliot, who uploaded the video to his YouTube account on January 17.

The prosecutor said: “They entered the carriage in possession of alcohol and sat themselves at a table.

“A young Black female and her friend were sitting at a table in the background of the video, behind the accused.

“Whilst waiting for the train to depart, the co-accused started videoing on his mobile phone with music playing in the background.

“The shot switches to a close up of the accused saying, ‘oh n***a’, before making monkey noises as the camera points to the young Black female.

“The accused turns in her direction, saying ‘monkeys’. Both of the men seem to laugh at these comments.

“The accused thereafter continues to make offensive remarks saying, ‘monkeys monkeys monkeys’. He was making monkey noises.”

Glasgow Times: A screenshot of David Hill, taken from the video A screenshot of David Hill, taken from the video

The incident was reported to the British Transport Police, and on January 22, officers attended at Elliot’s home and found both men within.

Both of them were identified as the men in the video.

The prosecutor added: “The accused freely admitted travelling to Glasgow for the funeral and having a drink on the train to celebrate the co-accused’s late mother’s life.

“The accused insisted the comments were not directed towards anyone on the train. In a separate comment made by the co-accused, he stated they were referring to a Pakistani taxi driver with a Glasgow accent who dropped them at the station, and they found this funny.

“In reply to caution and charge, the accused said, ‘I was a bit silly; I had a couple of drinks. It was not aimed at anybody’.”

Hill appeared at the court for sentencing on Thursday.

His lawyer said: “He is deeply embarrassed and there are no excuses for his behaviour. He does have an extensive criminal record, but it is the first offence of this nature. The last conviction was over seven years ago.”

He was placed on a community payback order which will require him to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and be under supervision for 12 months.