by Clare Buchanan
A RANGERS fan who sent a racist tweet to Celtic star Moussa Dembele from a pub in Dunfermline has been hit with a hefty fine.
Watching an Old Firm match in the Elizabethan, Deryck Connor, 25, sent an offensive message about the striker which said he "peeled bananas with his feet".
The Gers supporter also sent a message to former Hoops player, now pundit, Chris Sutton in which he branded him a "bead rattling b******".
Another obscene message about the Pope was found when police officers carried out enquiries into the racist tweet.
The Twitter messages were sent from the Elizabethan, from Connor's home and other unknown places.
Appearing for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court, he admitted that he sent Dembele, Sutton and others whose identities are unknown, messages through Twitter that were grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character in that he repeatedly posted offensive comments of both racial and religious hatred on March 12.
The court heard that police were made aware of racist tweets being made about Dembele and carried out an online search to trace the author of the tweets.
When questioned by police, he admitted that he had sent the tweets.
Defence agent Peter Mullen said Connor, of The Beeches, Lochgelly, wasn't stupid and understood how inappropriate the messages were.
"He is humiliated and is keen to put this chapter of his life behind him," he said. "He is a first offender who is intelligent enough to understand how inappropriate this was.
"!He has given up his season ticket for Rangers on the back of this so he is making efforts to take a step back from that."
Sheriff Craig McSherry said as he was a first time offender, he would fine Connor £700.
This article originally appeared in our sister title the Dunfermline Press
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