Port Glasgow fireman called Old Firm ref John Beaton ‘low-life cheating c**t’ in WhatsApp threats
A FIREMAN who threatened referee John Beaton and bombarded him with phone calls after an Old Firm game has been fined £750.
Paul McKee, 32, labelled the official a "cheating low life c**t" and a "rancid scum b******" during a 40-minute tirade on WhatsApp.
He also spent half an hour repeatedly calling the ref's house phone - and moaned there was "no f***ing answer" when he couldn't get through.
Whistler Beaton, 37, called in police after being subjected to abuse when his mobile phone number was leaked online.
It followed a controversial Glasgow derby at Ibrox which saw Rangers edge out Celtic 1-0.
Beaton was fiercely criticised for his performance in the match.
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Shamed dad-of-two McKee, of Port Glasgow, Inverclyde, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court and admitted sending messages containing grossly offensive, menacing and sectarian remarks in January this year.
The Celtic fan was fined by Sheriff Alasdair MacFadyen who blasted his "nasty" actions and said Beaton should not have been subjected to abuse.
Depute fiscal Lynn McFauld said: "Mr Beaton received numerous texts and phone calls from numbers that were unknown to him.
"He accepted the first few but then realised that his work phone had been compromised and he contacted Police Scotland and submitted his mobile phone for analysis.
"The evidence showed the accused as an administrator of a group chat who was allowed to add other members and that he added the complainer.
"The following messages associated to the now accused. "He said 'right Beaton ya f*****g s******g you have read the messages you f*****g banger, dirty cheating b*****d'.
"Another read 'I have got his house number as well, been trying that for the last 30 minutes but no f*****g answer. You are a f*****g cheating low life c**t.'
"He also sent 'Beaton answer your phone ya willy warmer' and 'f**k that he is a rancid scum b*****d and deserves all he gets for helping his mates in the lodges out, f**k him c**t.'
"The accused continued 'John ya f*****g b*****d answer us, we know you have read the messages, f**k the Crown also ya weapon.'
"Thereafter the accused removed Mr Beaton from the group chat.
"Police attended at the accused's home in February and when interviewed he made certain admissions."
Tony Callaghan, defending, told the court first offender McKee was a part-time firefighter who also worked at a care home.
He said: "He is deeply ashamed by this whole process and has been distraught at what has happened.
"He now recognises that he was the author of his own misfortune and it was reprehensible.
"It occurred at night, he had taken a few drinks and was online in the house himself and, quite stupidly, thought he would show off to his friends by adding the complainer to this group chat.
"He received a shock when the police arrived and took all the electronic devices, including iPads belonging to the children away and to say his partner was not best pleased would be an understatement."
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Sheriff MacFadyen said: "When Mr Beaton signed up to be a football referee, he did not sign up to be a recipient of this nasty form of abuse from you or anyone else.
"This fine will hopefully deter others from acting in a similar way in the future."
McKee is the third man to admit abusing Beaton after the game last year.
Last week, Paul Keenan, 32, of Rutherglen, Lanarkshire, confessed to threatening the referee and had sentence deferred.
Kevin Cushnahan, 41, of Gourock, Inverclyde, bombarded Beaton with bigoted abuse and was fined £550 at Greenock Sheriff Court.
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