A CATRINE man has been ordered to keep his nose clean for the rest of the year after hurling vile sectarian abuse at a member of the public.

John McCulloch, 54, admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner near his home address in Ballochmyle Quadrant, Catrine by shouting and swearing in an aggressive manner, aggravated by religious and disabled prejudice, on April 23 this year.

At Ayr Sheriff Court, the procurator fiscal depute said: "He shouted 'f*** the Pope and the IRA' and called a witness a ‘F****n b*****d'.

"This made the witness upset.

"The accused continued shouting and called the witness a 'm***o'. 

"The witness contacted police the following day. They contacted the accused who was cautioned and charged."

Defence solicitor Steven Maxwell said: "He has been on bail throughout and accepts the behaviour was wholly inappropriate.

"He had gone out and the whole world was his enemy. I think the bail order has been good."

Sheriff Siobhan Connelly told McCulloch: "This is clearly entirely unnacceptable.

"I will defer sentence for six months to show good behaviour. You will remain on bail in the meantime."

He will return to court at a later date for sentencing.