A former mortgage advisor sat weeping in the dock yesterday as Paisley Sheriff Court heard she drunkenly made remarks about her taxi driver’s religion.
Nicola Murney, of Marchfield Avenue in the Shortroods area of the town, admitted on March 26 last year she shouted, swore and uttered religiously offensive remarks.
Disgraced Murney also admitted she assaulted two police officers on the same day by kicking them.
The 43-year-old mother of two had been out drinking when she made offensive religious remarks to her taxi driver.
Procurator fiscal depute Ian Mathieson told Paisley Sheriff Court: "On January 25, the accused and her partner were within a public house consuming alcohol.
“Just after midnight, the accused contacted a taxi to take her and her partner back to the locus – which is her home address.
“In the course of the journey the accused began shouting, ‘Where the f**k are you taking me?’
“The accused’s partner tried to calm her down, telling her they were going the right way.
“The accused continued to act aggressively towards the driver.
“The driver pulled over to clarify where they were going.
“The accused demanded to be taken home and the driver parked a short distance from the accused’s home.
“The accused’s partner got out the taxi, and she remained in the taxi. When she was asked to leave she refused and this caused the driver to press the panic button.
“The accused reached forward hitting beads the driver had on his mirror.
“The accused repeatedly shouted, ‘This f*****g Allah.’
“The driver took great offence to this.
“A member of staff working for the taxi company answered a call from the driver and could hear the accused screaming, ‘You’re a f*****g be**end, and ‘You’re a f*****g f***y.’
“On the call, the driver stated he needed police assistance and they were contacted.
“Police arrived just after 1am and found the driver in the taxi, clearly distressed.
“He informed police of the accused’s address and they attended there.
“The accused refused police access, and when police informed her why they were they, she became immediately hostile.
“Eventually with the help of her partner, the police were allowed access and the accused stated she was unhappy the driver was taking a detour.
“The accused became confrontational with police and due to her escalating behaviour she was restrained.
“The accused then kicked PC Andrews and continued to kick her legs when officers attempted to continue to restrain her.
“During this, the accused kicked PC Baker to the upper body.
“Additional officers attended and successfully restrained the accused.
“The accused continued to scream and behave erratically and was placed in the back of a cell van.”
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Defence agent Mr Dunbar explained to the court that Murney was a first-time offender and that she had been made redundant in July from her job as a mortgage advisor for Santander. He explained: “This offence took place over 20 months ago and Ms Murney has no previous convictions.
“She deeply regrets her behaviour and is thoroughly ashamed of her conduct.
“When the police arrived, she and her partner where getting ready for bed and she was in her nightdress.
“She had hoped police would return to talk to her the next morning but they insisted on speaking with her then.
“This incident has taken its toll on her and she is very upset and gets emotional when the events of that night are discussed.”
Sheriff Laura Mundell said: “These are serious offences but I have been persuaded by your solicitor to deal with matters today.”
Sheriff Mundell fined Murney £225 for the offensive religious remark in the taxi imposing a £20 victim surcharge.
And for each of the assaults on the two police officers, Murney was fined £150 with a surcharge of £10 for each offence.
A total fine of £565 is to be paid within 28 days.
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