A DRUNKEN train passenger was arrested at Inverkeithing after continually ranting about Palestinians and Muslims on his journey home.

The man annoying the other travellers was 40-year-old joiner Joseph Becman.

His conduct landed Becman, of Inchgarvie Avenue, Burntisland, in the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted that, on December 6 during a journey between Haymarket and Inverkeithing rail stations, he shouted, swore and made grossly offensive remarks of a racist nature, placing passengers and staff on the train in a state of fear, alarm and annoyance.

Depute fiscal Charlotte Allan said the incident occurred on the 11pm train from Edinburgh to Dundee.

Becman got on the train with others and he immediately started shouting, making racist and religious comments about Palestinians and Muslims.

These included, “Up the Israelis, **** the Muslims they should all be castrated. **** the Palestinians, they are terrorists.”

Other passengers told him to shut up and his companions tried to move him further up the train.

However, Becman just became louder and more aggressive, the court heard.

Police went to Inverkeithing station after multiple calls about his behaviour.

Defence solicitor David McLaughlin said, “He’s a first offender at 40. Clearly these were appalling comments and he doesn’t hold these views at heart.

“He thinks he overheard someone talking about it on the train and, fuelled by alcohol, he’s said some pretty unpleasant things.”

Sheriff Mark O’Hanlon told Becman, “These were quite appalling comments. Such abuse is wholly unacceptable.”

Becman was put on a community payback order with 187 hours of unpaid work.