Solicitor who racially abused mother and son on train fined

sln1A solicitor who went on a racist rant against a woman and her son because they were in first class on a train has been fined.

Alexander MacKinnon, 47, racially abused Sanaa Shahid and her son Zayn on a Virgin train travelling from London Euston to Glasgow in December.

Ms Shahid filmed Mr MacKinnon, who said: “How did you get into first class? You don’t deserve to be in first class.”

He added: “You should be in common class. In fact, you shouldn’t be in this country at all.

“You don’t deserve to be here. Bloody foreigners. Where were you even born?”

Ms Shahid, who was born in Glasgow and is herself a lawyer, said the incident began when Mr MacKinnon shouted at her son for no reason.

A dozen fellow passengers failed to intervene, prompting Ms Shahid to report the solicitor to the train manager.

Mr MacKinnon pleaded guilty at Carlisle Magistrates Court to a racially aggravated public order offence.

He was fined £1,153 in addition to costs.

A spokesperson for the Solicitors Regulation Authority told Scottish Legal News: “We are aware of the situation and will review the available information before deciding on next steps.”

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