A racist lout who aimed vile abuse at shopkeepers dodged a jail term after admitting to a court that he had a booze problem.
Pawel Cieslak targeted two men serving him at an Edinburgh newsagents with hateful bile while buying himself beer.
The 38-year-old was also convicted of a third drink driving-related offence after causing a car crash.
But his lawyer told the city’s sheriff court how Cieslak had finally acknowledged his “significant alcohol problem” and needed help.
Sentencing the accused, Sheriff John Cook said he’d been minded to impose prison time but would give Cieslak a last chance to seek treatment.
Cieslak, a painter and decorator, appeared in court on Thursday and admitted various offences during a trio of incidents.
Fiscal depute Drew Long said Cieslak attended at A&A Newsagents in the Trinity area at 1.10pm on May 4.
Mr Long said Cieslak took four cans of beer to the counter but began staring at shopkeepers Tahir Ahmed and Parveen Ahmed.
Asked to leave the store, the court heard Cieslak started filming the pair before shouting racist abuse, including “Pakistani b*****d” and “Pakistani c***”.
In another incident in the city’s Gilmerton area on October 6 last month, Cieslak drove without due care and attention.
The court heard how he drove at excessive speed and braked repeatedly without reason, causing motorist Carly Morgan to collide with his car.
Cieslak, of the city’s Moredun area, then refused to comply with police to give a breathalyser test.
Mr Long said Cieslak also “burst through an unlocked door” at a home in Moredun where his ex-partner was present on July 19. The prosecutor said Cieslak shouted and swore at another occupant regarding the alleged theft of a bike.
Defence agent Paul Dunne said his client committed a “smorgasbord of offences that come down to someone unable to control their anger” and he’d asked Cieslak why.
Mr Dunne said Cieslak admitted he had a serious alcohol problem which the solicitor called the “difficult first step” in getting assistance.
By finally conceding his problem, Mr Dunne said Cieslak would be best placed to tackle it in the community as prisons were currently offering little rehabilitation support.
Sheriff Cook pointed out Cieslak had been caught drink driving twice before, adding he’d originally favoured a prison sentence.
But the sheriff said he’d been persuaded by the defence argument and imposed 18 months of supervision and 200 hours of community service.
Cieslak was banned from driving for two years for failing to take a breathalyser test.
He was further ordered to pay £200 of compensation to both the Ahmeds and the two occupants in Moredun.
