A man who hurled racist abuse on a bus before spitting at a police officer avoided jail.

Jamie Rowan, 31, made the horrible remarks in Glasgow city centre on 23 April 2022.

Rowan referred to other passengers as "black b*****s" and refused to get off the bus when ordered to by the driver.

He went on to spit towards a police officer who had attended before making abusive comments towards them.

Rowan pleaded guilty on Wednesday at Glasgow Sheriff Court to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.

Sheriff Joan Kerr put Rowan on a community payback order at sentencing as an "alternative to custody."

Rowan was ordered to do 180 hours of unpaid work and put under supervision for 18 months.

The court heard that Rowan got on the bus while drunk with eight to 10 other passengers on board.

Prosecutor Jessica McGowan stated that Rowan shouted words such as "mongo" before being racially abusive.

She added: "The driver formed the view that the racial abuse was referring to the colour of skin of some of the passengers on the bus."

The bus was then stopped and Rowan was noted to be lying down.

The driver was met with verbal abuse by Rowan when he was asked to leave.

Other passengers were then asked to leave for their own safety.

Police arrived shortly after when Rowan's racist behaviour continued.

Rowan fell to his feet when getting off the bus and later put in handcuffs.

Miss McGowan said: "During a conversation to identify himself, Rowan spat towards the upper body of PC Dawson."

Rowan continued to shout abuse and threats at the police which resulted in him not being formally charged.

Neil Kilcoyne, defending, told the court: "He was extremely intoxicated and has absolutely no memory of events due to this."

The lawyer added that Rowan has gained employment at Open Gates which supports prisoners and ex-prisoners through an employment and training program.