A Muslim police officer has been awarded �200 compensation from a drunk who racially abused him.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard Constable Shahid Maqsood was called to a party in Inverness where he and a colleague found David Brown lying unconscious through drink.

When Brown, 26, was taken to the police station he started shouting racist abuse at Constable Maqsood.

The court was told that Brown had said coloured people should be kicked out of Britain.

He was sentenced to one year's probation as well as being fined.

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Car hunt in murder inquiry

Detectives investigating the murder of Edinburgh publican Billy Sibbald have appealed for information about a stolen car.

They want to hear about any sightings of a turquoise Hyundai Pony which was found burnt out in Penicuik two days after Mr Sibbald disappeared in October.

Mr Sibbald's body was found last month on an embankment off the A1.

He died from stab wounds in what police described as a violent attack.

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Sheridan vows to defy fine

Scottish Socialist Party MSP Tommy Sheridan has been found guilty of breach of the peace at Helensburgh District Court.

It follows his participation in a peaceful blockade last year at the Faslane naval base on the Clyde, home of the Trident nuclear submarine.

Mr Sheridan said he would not pay the �200 fine and is prepared to go to prison instead.

He has 28 days to pay.

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Employment rising, figures show

Unemployment in Scotland has fallen, according to new statistics.

Figures from the International Labour Organisation, the government's preferred method of measuring unemployment, show the jobless rate is 5.9%, a fall of 13,000 over the year.

The number of people in work rose to 2.43m during the last quarter of 2002, up 47,000 on the same period last year, according to the ILO figures.

The claimant count measure of unemployment showed there were 99,100 people out of work and claiming benefit in January.

This was down by 200 from the previous month, and a fall of 4,400 from last year.

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Hunt for hit-and-run driver

Police have been searching for a driver involved in a hit-and-run accident in which another motorist was injured.

The female driver of a Renault Clio failed to stop after colliding with a Fiat Cinquecento on Niddrie Mains Road, in Edinburgh, on Monday evening.

The 17-year-old Fiat driver suffered minor cuts to his face and a slight hip injury.