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NewsScottish NewsPolice visit and golf ban for OAP who made lesbian comments

Police visit and golf ban for OAP who made lesbian comments

A PENSIONER got a late night grilling from police and a ban from his golf club after warning a young woman to look out for lesbians.

William Webster, 75, says police knocked his door at 10pm “ranting and raving” about how he could be charged with a hate crime.

The widower, who is still under police investigation two months later, has also been banned for a year from every council-run golf club in Dundee.

The father of one and retired supply company technical administrator, claims he is the victim of heavy handed obsession with political correctness and said the whole situation is “bloody crazy”.

 

 

William Webster, 75, says police knocked his door at 10pm
William Webster, 75, says police knocked his door at 10pm

 

 

Mr Webster used to play at the city’s Caird Park Golf Club every day.

Council chiefs have branded his behaviour as intimidating but Mr Webster insists his comments were nothing more than “flippant”.

Mr Webster, who has been going to the club, said the incident happened in September when he was talking to a new member of bar staff.

“I thought she was a student,” said Mr Webster. “But she said this was her permanent job. I said ‘You are aware of the homosexuality of your surroundings?

“And then I said, ‘I hope they don’t tamper with you’.”

He continued: “After I made the flippant remark it was quit a normal conversation. A happy go lucky one.”

But that night Mr Webster claims he got a surprise visit from the police.

 

 

Mr Webster now faces a year long ban from the golf course
Mr Webster now faces a year long ban from the golf course

 

 

“There were two police officers at 10pm at night ranting about homosexuals.

“I was told, ‘You can be arrested for homophobia’.”

Mr Webster said he gets on well with the staff at the course.

He has been playing golf there for the last 10 years and says has nothing against homosexuals who are “entitled to their own lives.”

He added: “I’m missing my friends. I’m a widower. I live on my own and don’t have any family in Dundee.

“I’m not a fit man I can only manage nine holes but I meet my friends at the club every day. We just go for a blether and a laugh.

“I was totally surprised by what happened. There is no freedom of speech.”

A friend of Mr Webster’s, Albert Lynch, 73, who has been playing golf with him for 10 years, said: “He was part of the group of lads. It all seems a bit harsh to me. I’ve never seen this happen before.”

Mr Webster said he bought a new set of golf clubs costing £1,000 earlier this year.

He said: “I guess I managed to get some use out of them. All my friends are angry but there is nothing they can do

“Nobody from the council or government has helped me because it’s a politically sensitive issue. They want to keep their noses clean. I’m a pain in the ass to them.”

 

 

A Leisure and Culture Dundee spokesman said: “We do not tolerate this sort of behaviour”
A Leisure and Culture Dundee spokesman said: “We do not tolerate this sort of behaviour”

 

 

A spokesman for Leisure and Culture Dundee, which manages the city’s leisure facilities for the council, said: “Our staff should not have to face abuse or intimidation of any kind when they are at work.

“We do not tolerate this sort of behaviour.”

A police spokeswoman said: “We have been made aware of the incident on September 1 at the Caird Park Golf Course in relation to inappropriate comments made. It is under enquiry.”

Director of the Equality Network Tim Hopkins said: “People should not have to put up with homophobic or transphobic abuse at work.

“We would encourage members of staff who are suffering from abuse in any form to raise it with their manager.”

He continued: “It is really important that people do report hate crime and police make it clear it is being treated seriously.

“The perception of the LGBT is that police don’t treat things seriously enough.”

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