RACIST THUG BOOTED OUT

Angela Murphy • Published 5 Aug 2009 17:13

A JOHNSTONE thug is believed to be the first in Scotland to be evicted for racially abusing a neighbour.

Brian Waters was booted out of his council house in Greenend Avenue after threatening to kill his Polish neighbour in May last year.

He was chucked out this week much to the joy of other residents in the street after a decree was obtained from Paisley Sheriff Court.

The 36-year-old was convicted of two charges of racially abusing his neighbour on February 2 this year.

He was placed on probation for two years and a two year criminal anti-social behaviour order was imposed on him.

Waters did not make any attempt to defend the decree to evict him.

The ground-floor flat which Waters used to rent (pictured right) has metal barricades on the windows and doors.

Racist graffiti including a Swastika had been painted on the metal.

Fed-up neighbours are delighted that they are finally rid of him.

One tenant said: "He says he's not a racist but all he caused was misery to that neighbour.

"We're glad to see the back of him."

Councillor Brian Lawson, Convener of Renfrewshire Council's Housing and Community Safety Policy Board, said: "Racism is a despicable crime and it is absolutely unacceptable that a council tenant would put their neighbour through such an ordeal.

"We will not tolerate tenants who abuse their tenancy agreement by acting in this way.

"Renfrewshire Council has a strong track record of evicting tenants who deal drugs or the friends and relatives who allow this.

"This is the first time we have evicted a tenant for racial abuse and shows that we will stand up to those who disrupt communities in this way.

"Our Anti Social Behaviour Investigations Team (ASIST) worked very closely with the police and members of the public to bring about this eviction and I'd like to thank all of them for their hard work."

In August last year, Waters was also charged with possession of cannabis and being concerned in the cultivation of cannabis plants within his home.

Sentence was deferred until October 27 2009.

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This article appeared in The Gazette 05 Aug 09

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