Man who daubed disgusting anti-Semitic and other hateful slogans around Greenock claims he's NOT a racist

Barry O'Brien plastered graffiti on the wall of an historic lane in the town, tried to attach a banner to railings and carried out a bizarre one-man demonstration with a scrawled-on cupboard door.

The 38-year-old targeted The Dardanelles — where soldiers who fought in the Dardanelles strait in Gallipoli during The First World War trained — with spray paint.

Greenock Sheriff Court heard how O'Brien referred to a religious figure as a 'paedo', along with the words 'Combat 18' and 'Kill him quick'.

He also used a racial slur in reference to Asian people, coupled with the words, 'Time to go home' and scrawled 'Air strike, air strike, air strike'.

The court was told how a witness spotted the racist vandalism on the wall whilst walking home and immediately alerted police.

But O'Brien continued with his 'very disturbing' campaign and committed a total of three such offences over the space of five days before he was arrested.

Prosecutor John Penman said: "A witness was walking on Inverkip Road and saw the accused holding a plastic sign.

"The accused proceeded along the road holding the sign in a way that displayed the message written on it and he then attempted to fix the sign to a railing."

The court was told that the sign again referenced Asian people with the additional words, 'Go home'.

In the third incident, O'Brien used a cupboard door as his means of conveying anti-Semitic words in public at the Oak Mall shopping centre.

He had also written on the door: "Over 1,500 overdoses through drugs in Scotland — that would be an epidemic in any other country. Answer, it's only Scotland, which should be a scandal on its own."

Defence lawyer Derek Buchanan said: "The offences are clearly very disturbing. He doesn't have a cogent explanation."

Mr Buchanan — who told the court O'Brien had been intoxicated on 'street valium' at the time of the offences — added: "He presents as a very vulnerable and naive man, and can be described as someone who is very impressionable and easily led.

"He had viewed a lot of right wing propaganda."

The solicitor said: "He has not got a particular recollection of carrying out the offences.

"He is deeply embarrassed and these are not views that he holds.

"I have had dealings with Mr O'Brien for some 20 years and I was surprised to see what he had been charged with in this instance."

O'Brien — whose actions were described by Sheriff Andrew McIntyre as 'shameful' — said from the dock: "I'm awfy sorry for causing all this bother."

Sheriff McIntyre told him: "I cannot underline enough how serious this is.

"Prison is a definite option I am considering."

The sheriff added: "I'm stopping short of remanding you in custody. I did consider that because of the threat your behaviour poses to the community."

Sentence has been deferred until November 11 for a background report, psychiatric assessment and enquiries into a possible electronic tagging order.

O'Brien, of the Inverclyde Centre, must meantime sign on every day at Greenock police office as a condition of bail and is subject to an 8pm to 7am night-time curfew.