A SHERIFF has sparked outrage by claiming that all Chinese people can look the same to Scots.

Sheriff Margaret Gimblett made the remark before clearing overseas student Hui Yu on driving charges.

The 23-year-old, originally from Beijing, China, had been identified by police as the man they stopped in a Rover 400 at a garage forecourt.

But the part-time supermarket worker insisted it wasn’t him – claiming he was at home with his girlfriend at the time.

Greenock Sheriff Gimblett said: “There can be a difficulty – even with experienced observers – in distinguishing people of different cultures or race.

“Without wanting to be derogatory in any way, sometimes it is said that all black people look the same at first glance and the same can be said that all Chinese people can look the same to a native Scot.

Advertisement

“It’s only when you have time to look that you begin to see the differences.”

But yesterday, SNP justice spokesman Kenny MacAskill said: “I am absolutely gobsmacked.

Read More