Racist thug hurled abuse at East Lothian shopkeeper

Peter Perallos, 34, shouted “I’m going to stab you” at Mohammed Shazaad before abusing him racially.

He and Mr Shazaad then traded punches after the shopkeeper stood up for himself within the Ormiston Superstore in East Lothian earlier this year.

Perallos eventually fled from the shop after the brave shopkeeper grabbed a golf club he kept behind the counter and waved it at him.

Police were called in and Perallos was traced to his nearby home at Park Road in the village of Ormiston on October 30 this year.

Perallos appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court from custody where he admitted to uttering threats of violence and racially offensive remarks and fighting with Mr Shazaad within his shop.

Prosecutor Calum Thomson told the court trouble erupted outside the store at around 5.30pm when Mr Shazaad heard a disturbance in the street between Perallos and customer Ian McGeorge.

The row then “spilled into the shop” where the store owner heard Perallos threatening to stab Mr McGeorge before subjecting him to racist abuse.

“In response Mr Shazaad has struck the accused to the face. Thereafter a two-way fight between Mr Shazaad and the accused takes place with blows exchanged between both parties.”

The fiscal added Perallos then shouted “I’m going to stab you” at the shocked shopkeeper.

Mr Thomson said: “Mr Shazaad then goes to the back of his counter and picks up a golf club and gestures towards the accused who backs away.”

Police were called and were said to have found both Mr Shazaad and Mr McGeorge in “a state of distress” and both had “redness to their faces”.

Perallos was subsequently traced to his home nearby.

Sheriff Adrian Fraser deferred sentence to next month for the preparation of reports and restriction of liberty order assessment to be carried out.

Perallos was released on bail with the conditions he does not enter Ormiston Superstore and does not approach or contact Mr Shazaad. Breaching bail conditions is a serious offence and he could face further charges if he defies the order, resulting in a heavier punishment.

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