A commercial lawyer for the global investment firm BlackRock has been handed a financial penalty after she launched a homophobic tirade and physically assaulted a fellow passenger on a Scottish train.
The Drunken Onslaught
Rebecca Lindsay, aged 35, was travelling on the Edinburgh to Glasgow Queen Street service on 13 December 2024 following a work Christmas party. The court heard that Lindsay, who had been drinking, fell on the train and was assisted by a passenger named Jamie Redmane.
After a brief conversation, Lindsay's demeanour turned suddenly aggressive towards Mr Redmane. She then moved through the carriage and began shouting abuse at another woman, yelling: 'You are a fing mad fing dyke lesbian, you are the problem'.
When another passenger checked on Mr Redmane after the confrontation, Lindsay turned on them both. She shouted explicit and homophobic insults, including: 'Is he your boyfriend? Have you got your d*** up his a***, is he s**** him tonight, he is up his a**'.
The Physical Assault and Continued Abuse
The situation escalated further when Lindsay called another man 'ugly' as he walked past with his girlfriend. As the man attempted to calm her down and guide her to her seat, Lindsay lashed out and kicked him twice.
Fiscal depute Ross Canning told Glasgow Sheriff Court that the man sustained no injury from the attack. As she sat down, Lindsay continued her verbal abuse, shouting at the couple: 'Go away you f****** orange ned, go away you f***ing psycho freak'.
Her tirade persisted for the remainder of the journey, during which she made another lewd comment to a passenger.
Court Sentencing and Defence
Lindsay, who is from the Shawlands area of Glasgow, pled guilty to one charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner aggravated by prejudice related to sexual orientation and one charge of assault.
Her defence lawyer, Allan Macleod, stated that Lindsay had been drinking while on medication and had 'no recollection' of her actions. He explained that 'a couple of glasses of wine went to her head' and cited social pressure to drink. Mr Macleod also mentioned that the man she kicked had called her an 'old skank'.
He told the court: 'She cannot express more regret than she feels and is utterly ashamed by her conduct. She bitterly regrets her actions.'
Despite the serious nature of the offences, Sheriff David Hall decided against a custodial sentence, noting that Lindsay had no previous convictions. He fined her £640 and told her: 'I accept the submission that you are unlikely to be seen in court again.'
