A shopkeeper has told of his 'sadness' after a racial abuse lout hurled a disgusting slur at him and shouted: "Go back to your own country."

Muhammed Fazil was verbally abused by yob Patrick Condon at the 'News 4 U' store on Kilblain Street shortly after opening up for early morning trade.

Condon, 54 — who is barred from the premises — referred to Muhammed as 'black' and accompanied the remark with a vile swear word.

Muhammed told the Tele: "I give him a coffee every day he's here but he's not allowed in the shop.

"He was outside kicking my [advertising] board and I said to him, 'Paddy, why are you hitting my board' and he replied, 'Cos I'm happy'.

"I told him if he didn't stop I'd call the police and that's when he started with the racial stuff and shouting and swearing.

"The shopkeeper next door was telling him that it wasn't nice.

"My wife was on the phone to me and heard him and she said not to let him go."

Muhammed added: "It was really bad and I just think it's really sad.

"I'm here to serve the community and most people are lovely but it's sad that I had to deal with this racist abuse."

Condon, of Murdieston Street, appeared from custody at the sheriff court to admit a charge of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner by shouting, swearing and making an offensive remark.

Prosecutor Maria Murdoch said: "The accused began hitting the shop window with his walking stick.

"He stated, 'Go get the rest of your tribe down', then started to dance in front of the witness.

"A 999 call was made to report the incident.

"Police attended and arrested the accused.

"He was cautioned and charged and replied, 'I just told him to go home, I wasn't threatening'."

Defence lawyer Aidan Gallagher said: "At his age he should know better.

"Shopkeepers perform an essential role in the community and should be able to go about their business without being subjected to such behaviour.

"This appears to have been an isolated incident, but that is not to minimise it, as it caused distress.

"Mr Condon adversely reacted to being told that he was no longer welcome in the shop."

Sheriff James Varney placed Condon on supervised bail and deferred sentence on him until January 25 for a background report and electronic tagging assessment to be compiled.