A millionaire businessman racially abused staff at Gleneagles Hotel after being refused service in the bar.

Stefan Hutter launched a verbal tirade at several people after getting drunk at the bar at the five-star resort.

The 56-year-old Swiss admitted racially abusing hotel employee Houssem Belabed and American tourists Naim Dehgany and Michael Arshagouni in Perthshire on August 20.

He shouted in the face of concierge worker Stevie Seba and pointing at him aggressively while threatening to attack him after he was refused service at a bar in the hotel.

Hutter, who is managing director of Singapore-based global textile firm Santis which had a £70m turnover last year, is a regular visitor to Gleneagles.

Perth Sheriff Court heard on Monday he had been staying in a luxury suite while playing golf with friends.

Fiscal depute Robbie Brown said: "This appears to have been precipitated by some form of argument on the golf course earlier in the day. He returned to the hotel and became intoxicated. At 11pm he was in the bar and refused alcohol by members of staff. Given his state, he became annoyed and upset by that.

"He basically started sounding off. Stevie Seba was on the concierge desk and the accused walked over shouting at him and threatening him. He is of Indonesian origin.

"Houssem Belabed is Tunisian and he was ushering other guests from the bar. The accused was shouting that he hated Muslims and 'Arabs'."

Mr Brown said Hutter then turned his anger towards two American guests staying at the hotel, who were of Persian and Armenian backgrounds, and subjected them to similar abuse.

Sheriff Fiona Tait fined the millionaire businessman £1600 after he pled guilty to three charges of acting in a threatening or abusive manner.

She told him: "The court does take a serious view of offences which are racial in nature. You appear as a first offender and have the wherewithal to pay a financial penalty.

"The fine will be £1600 to reflect the particularly unpleasant nature of it, and the hotel staff and guests should not have to be subjected to that."

Solicitor Paul Ralph, defending, told the court: "He takes a strong painkiller for a shoulder injury and he shouldn't drink on top of that. He takes it when he is playing golf because the injury inhibits him otherwise.

"He has no memory of any argument on the golf course or any particular memory of this behaviour. That does not excuse it in any way. These are not views he holds."

Mr Ralph added: "It doesn't appear to have been personal to these people, but that doesn't make it any less unpleasant. He has spent the time, from being apprehended later in his room, until now, in custody."