A MAN who drunkenly hurled homophobic slurs at a table of women in a fast-food restaurant at 3.30am has walked from court unpunished.

Bryan McGowan stood up and targeted the diners out of the blue for abuse at McDonald's in Port Glasgow — branding the group 'lesbians'.

Despite loudly and wrongly declaring that the women all had sex with each other, the 21-year-old has been admonished over the offence.

His lawyer, Fiona Cook, told Greenock Sheriff Court that McGowan had 'engaged in voluntary work' since being placed on a deferred sentence to be of good behaviour last May.

Prosecutor John Penman said: "It was clear to everyone that he was drunk.

"He shouted that the group was the 'lesbian party' and that they were sitting at the 'lesbian table'."

McGowan also shouted at McDonald's staff, stating: "Are they your staff? They need to be put on a leash."

He later struggled with police who were called in to remove him from the premises.

McGowan, of the Port's Moss Road, pleaded guilty to a charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and uttering homophobic remarks.

He committed the offence on March 24 last year.

Solicitor Ms Cook told a previous calling of the case: "He is deeply ashamed by the was he has behaved, has expressed remorse and is very anxious about what might happen to him.

"His record is modest and he has never appeared at sheriff court level."

Sheriff Michael Higgins told McGowan: "Your behaviour was totally unacceptable, however, I take on board that you have been of good behaviour and your involvement in voluntary work.

"I will deal with the matter by way of admonition."