A TRANENT woman who shouted a racist comment at a teenage boy has been fined.

Veronica Dickson, 32, shouted “**** off you n**-n**” at the 13-year-old after a group of youths had surrounded her home at the town’s Northfield.

The youths had gathered in the street after a thief had stolen a child’s bike while they were playing nearby at about 5.30pm on July 12.

Following the theft, the children gave chase and ended up near Dickson’s home.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard that Dickson became “anxious” due to the large gathering of youths and she made the comment after believing the boy had banged on her front door.

She failed to appear at the city court last Wednesday but lawyer Mary Moultrie lodged a guilty plea on her behalf.

Sheriff Peter McCormack fined Dickson £210.

Dickson admitted acting in a racially aggravated manner by shouting, swearing, and making offensive remarks to the schoolboy at Northfield, Tranent, on July 12.