A former soldier who shouted racist abuse and threatened violence at an Ayr barber shop later bit a police officer during his arrest, Ayr Sheriff Court heard.
Joseph Rae pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and assault to severe injury during a brief pre-trial hearing at the court on Wednesday, August 19. The 36-year-old was listed as an inmate at HMP Kilmarnock.
Abuse and threats at Magic Scissors
The court heard Rae caused fear and alarm at Magic Scissors on Ayr High Street on February 19, 2025, shouting, swearing and making racially abusive and offensive remarks over the price of a product.
The charge was aggravated by prejudice relating to race, colour, nationality, citizenship or ethnic and national origins. Rae also admitted threatening a man with violence, throwing confectionery, throwing rocks at a window, repeatedly kicking the window and threatening to damage the premises.
The Procurator Fiscal depute said police were called by a passer-by after Rae left the shop and continued to act aggressively. The court heard he had threatened: “I'll be back to smash your windows”.
Officer faced six-month wait for test results
Police traced and arrested Rae a short time later. He resisted when officers attempted to detain him and bit one constable on the arm, causing severe injury, the court heard.
After being taken to the police station, Rae told a member of staff that he had Hepatitis C. The injured officer received a vaccine and had to wait six months for test results, causing what the court heard was significant anxiety and distress. The results were clear.
Sentence reduced after early guilty plea
Rae's solicitor said his client had spent 38 days in custody, had addiction issues and had an extremely limited recollection of what happened. He said Rae accepted that he had subjected the barber to intolerable abuse and acknowledged the distress caused by the assault on police.
The solicitor told the court Rae had joined the army at 16 and was discharged after two years. He said Rae had struggled to adjust to civilian life, describing his history as a “life sentence in instalments” involving brief periods at liberty. Rae had spent time reflecting in custody and recognised that he needed to change, the court heard.
Sheriff Mhari MacTaggart told Rae the case could be a turning point and that he was at a crossroads where he had to choose the right track. She also warned him about becoming so intoxicated that he could not remember his actions.
Rae was jailed for 12 months, reduced from 16 months because of his early guilty plea. The sentence was backdated to July 20, when he was first remanded in custody.
