Pair handed curfew and unpaid work order for racially abusing Humza Yousaf

A man and woman who racially abused Humza Yousaf and hurled offensive remarks at other SNP politicians have avoided jail.

Tracie Currie, 35, and Carl O’Brien, 25, pled guilty to targeting the First Minister in Dundee on February 25.

On Thursday, Currie was given an 18-month supervision order and told to complete 180 hours of unpaid work within a year, reduced from 240 hours due to her guilty plea.

O’Brien was given a restriction of liberty order to be completed at his home for six months, reduced from eight months, that will keep him inside between 7pm and 7am.

The judge said the sentences were direct alternatives to custody.

Court papers detailed how the pair repeatedly made racist remarks about Yousaf and prejudiced comments about religion in the Seagate area of the city.

They then directed verbal abuse towards local SNP MSP Shona Robison, who is now deputy first minister, and MP Chris Law at the party’s parliamentary office on Old Glamis Road.

The court papers said O’Brien also repeatedly phoned the Dundee SNP parliamentary office and made offensive remarks the previous day, on February 24.

Nominations for the SNP leadership contest closed that day, and Yousaf was one of three candidates.

Currie pled not guilty to resisting arrest and struggling outside a police station on Bell Street in Dundee as well as being in possession of cocaine, which the court accepted.

O’Brien denied a further charge of threatening and abusive behaviour, which was accepted by the court.