A DRUNK thug kept up hours of racist abuse after a shopkeeper refused to phone him a taxi.

Charlie McAleer lost control after the owner of News N Chews on Hope Street told him to hail a taxi on the street.

The 20-year-old had gone repeatedly into the city centre newsagent asking for staff to get him a cab.

When he was told no, McAleer called the shop worker a "black b*****d" and tried to climb over the counter, issuing threats.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard the terrified victim pressed the emergency alarm and police arrived at the shop.

McAleer was believed to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs and was arrested and taken to Stewart Street police office.

He persisted with his tirade of foul insults, shouting: "black, dirty b******s," n****r b******s," dirty f*****g Romanian gypsy c***s," and "dirty immigrant b******s".

At Stewart Street, McAleer, from Kilmarnock, was placed in a cell but began to vomit and foam at the mouth so was taken to hospital by ambulance, still continuing his racist abuse. He was later deemed fit and returned to the cells.

In mitigation, his defence lawyer said he had been frank about his drug and alcohol use, and that he had a good work record.

Sheriff Daniel Kelly sentenced McAleer to a Community Payback Order with 12 months supervision and 200 hours of unpaid work to be completed in six months.