‘ Bloody foreigners … You don’t deserve to be here’: Vile solicitor launches racist tirade at against mum and young son on train.
Bigoted Alexander “AJ” MacKinnon told lawyer Sanaa Shahid and her four-year-old son that they shouldn’t be in first class and shouldn’t even be in the country.
The Daily Record today exposes this solicitor and former public schoolboy as a vile bigot who spat racist abuse at a young mum and her little son on a train.
Former company director Alexander “AJ” MacKinnon, 47, was offended by the presence of Sanaa Shahid and her son Zayn, four, in ‘his’ first-class carriage. The snob sneered at them: “How did you get into first class? You don’t deserve to be in first class.
“You should be in common class. In fact, you shouldn’t be in this country at all.
“You don’t deserve to be here. Bloody foreigners. Where were you even born?”
Bully MacKinnon also swore at little Zayn. His social media “likes” include Donald Trump, the BNP and the far-right English Defence League.
None of the other passengers in the carriage did anything to help Glasgow-born lawyer Sanaa. But she bravely confronted MacKinnon and branded him a racist.
She reported him to the train manager and transport police took him away in handcuffs. He continued to spout racist bile and abuse when officers interviewed him.
MacKinnon appeared in court this week and admitted a racist offence, but escaped with a fine.
He apparently hoped a quick guilty plea would help him avoid publicity.
Sanaa and Zayn fell foul of MacKinnon on December 29 on the 2.30pm Virgin train from London Euston to Glasgow Central. Sanaa was heading home with her son after visiting husband Aftab, 36, who is working in the UK capital.
“This man started behaving aggressively to my son, telling him to shut up,” Sanaa recalled.
“I said to him that my son hadn’t done anything and then the abuse began. I moved seats to try to get away.
“I was taken aback. I’ve lived in Scotland all my life and nothing of this nature has ever happened to me. I told him straight that he was being racist and the staff on the train heard it.
“There were another 10 to 12 passengers in the carriage and not one of them spoke up. That was shocking too.”
Sanaa began filming MacKinnon and watched as he guzzled wine straight from the bottle.
She also listened as he picked up his phone and arrogantly told a friend that someone was “wasting police time” by accusing him of racism. He knew at the time that Sanaa had reported him.
MacKinnon spat at Sanaa: “I’m racist, am I? You’re a racist.” He then looked straight at Zayn and swore aggressively.
Sanaa said: “I started filming this man in the immediate aftermath of the incident. Even then I could hear him talking on the phone, ranting about me and Zayn.
“The train manager contacted British Transport Police then came and sat next to me until the train got into Carlisle.
“The Virgin staff could not have been better. They realised what was happening and were brilliant.
“The transport police were waiting to interview me when the train got into Glasgow. They were brilliant too.”
But despite all the support she received, Sanaa admitted MacKinnon’s abuse left its mark on her. She said: “I found myself crying a few times in the days afterwards.
“I was just so shocked to encounter this level of racism.
“I was also shocked at the open aggression this man showed towards my son. He is only four years old.”
MacKinnon is originally from London and was a boarder at exclusive Milton Abbey School in Dorset, where boarding now costs £11,780 per term.
He has “liked” Donald Trump on social media and posted articles about former UKIP leader Nigel Farage. His other social media “likes” include the English Defence League, the BNP, the Scottish BNP and various Scottish Conservative associations.
MacKinnon also likes luxury Swiss watchmakers, high-end gentlemen’s outfitters and vintage car associations for models such as Bentley and Jaguar.
He appeared at Carlisle Magistrates Court on Tuesday and admitted a racially aggravated public order offence. He was fined £1154, plus £50 compensation, a £150 victim surcharge and £85 in court costs.
MacKinnon booked into a hotel in Gretna for his court appearance and shamelessly reviewed it online, praising the “very friendly staff” and “fantastic breakfast”.
He also complained about a firm of solicitors, although he didn’t explain why he needed them.
He wrote: “Would NOT recommend. They don’t return your phone calls and don’t reply to your emails.
“Found another solicitor who done what I wanted done within a day.”
We went to talk to MacKinnon yesterday at his plush flat in leafy Mansionhouse Road on the south side of Glasgow, but a man who answered the door said he spoke for him and then refused to comment on his behaviour.
PC Mark Mellenthin, who investigated the case, said MacKinnon’s “frightening racist outburst” left Sanaa “visibly distressed and shaken”.
He added: “People like MacKinnon must understand that abusive, racist behaviour has no place on the railway. Everyone has the right to travel without fear of abuse like this.
“When it does happen we will do everything in our power to bring people before the courts.
“Hopefully MacKinnon’s substantial fine will make him think twice before unleashing such vitriol on other members of the public.”
Daily Record