Nazi-supporting man hurled abuse at Sikh schoolboy and beat his friend in East Kilbride

A racist coward hurled abuse at a Sikh schoolboy and beat the youngster’s friend with a stick.

His behaviour left school pupils “absolutely terrified”, a court heard.

Dickeson, 48, admitted assaulting a 15-year-old boy in East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, on October 2, 2019.

He also admitted threatening or abusive behaviour aggravated by religious and racial prejudice.

Neil Thomson, prosecuting, said Dickeson, who had been drinking, confronted a group of three schoolboys as they went to shops at lunchtime.

He told Hamilton Sheriff Court: “The accused directed his attention at a 15-year-old Sikh boy, shouting ‘F... Mohammed’ and ‘F... Sikhism’.

“The boy was upset and turned back towards his school.

“Dickeson followed him and his friends, swinging a walking stick above his head and brandishing a bottle.

“He struck one of the boys with the stick, causing a laceration to his scalp.

“The boys then ran back to their school. In statements later, they said they were absolutely terrified by the accused’s behaviour.”

According to Mr. Thomson, when police arrived, found Dickeson shouting phrases including ‘Sieg Heil’, ‘Fenian b......s’, ‘Il gas you Jews’ and ‘Build the wall’.

According to defence agent Jackson Bateman, Dickeson was reportedly injured in a scuffle with other kids earlier and needed medical treatment.

Sheriff Alasdair MacFadyen said the charges were “very serious” and deferred sentence until next month for background reports.

Two years ago Dickeson was electronically tagged for making Nazi salutes in East Kilbride town centre.

Last year he was given a community payback order after he was spotted scrawling swastikas on the road outside his home.

He told neighbours they were “not welcome in my community” and threatened to burn down their homes.

Dickeson also claimed to be a pal of right-wing extremist Tommy Robinson.