A solicitor who racially abused a mother in front of her young son on a train has been fined more than £1000.

Alexander MacKinnon, 47, of Mansionhouse Road, Glasgow, pleaded guilty to the racially aggravated public order offence after launching a barrage of racist abuse at the woman last December on a train from London to Glasgow.

Appearing at Carlisle Magistrates Court on Monday, MacKinnon was fined £1154 and also ordered to pay £50 compensation, a £150 victim surcharge and £85 in court costs.

The court heard how on December 29 last year, MacKinnon, who had been drinking and was sitting in the first class carriage of the 2.30pm train from London Euston to Glasgow, shouted at a four-year-old boy, telling him to be quiet.

When the child's mother asked him not to shout at her son he replied with a tirade of racist abuse, demanding to know where she came from, why she did not go back there and that she should not be travelling in first class.

His victim began to cry and reported the man to a member of rail staff.

The train manager was informed and told MacKinnon he would be taken off the train at Carlisle and met by police.

He responded by continuing his racist rant, accusing his victim of wasting police time by reporting the matter and adding she should not be in this country.

In a subsequent police interview, MacKinnon continued to be abusive and racist about his victim.

Investigating officer Mark Mellenthin said: "The victim was visibly distressed and shaken by MacKinnon's frightening racist outburst. Thankfully the train manager stepped in before the abuse escalated.

"People like MacKinnon must understand that abusive, racist behaviour like this has no place on the railway and will not be tolerated.

"Everyone has the right to travel in safety without fear of abuse like this, violence or intimidation."

He added: "When it does happen we will do everything in our power to bring them before the courts.

"Hopefully MacKinnon's substantial fine will make him think twice before unleashing such vitriol on other members of the public."