Woman jailed for shouting Nazi slogan and saluting outside library

Rochelle Green made the Nazi salute while outside the Mitchell library

A woman who shouted a Nazi slogan and made a fascist salute has been jailed for two weeks.

Rochelle Green told a court her behaviour outside Glasgow Mitchell Library on 3 October last year was for "entertainment value".

The 32-year-old went on to strike an elderly stranger on the head as he passed by and made a gun gesture towards him.

Green, now of Preston, Lancashire, was convicted of threatening and abusive behaviour as well as assault following a trial last month at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

She was initially fined £500 by Sheriff Vincent Lunny.

However, that was converted to a two-week custodial sentence after Green was unable to pay the sum.

Green was spotted carrying out the act by two police officers dealing with another matter in the nearby area.

PC Grace Ross told the court she saw Green raise her arm in "what I can describe as a Nazi salute."

She said Green had shouted "Sieg Heil, like a Nazi chant."

PC Liam Coyle added that he saw Green stamp her feet as well as do the Nazi salute.

An elderly man with shopping bags then walked past Green.

PC Ross said Green walked behind him, then prodded him on the back of his head.

She told the court the man raised his elbow to fend her off.

'Purely for entertainment'

In her evidence, Green told the court she was dancing outside the library while listening to music on her headphones.

Her lawyer, Manjit Ram, asked if she had shouted the slogan, to which she replied: "It was purely for entertainment value - it seems silly but it is true."

When asked if she made a gun motion with her fingers, Green replied: "I do not know why I would do such a thing."

Ms Ram later asked Green if she hit the man and she responded: "I recoil from physical contact."

Sentencing, Sheriff Lunny said a Nazi salute would "be considered threatening and abusive" as well as "cause fear and alarm."

The sheriff added: "I am satisfied that you did make a gun gesture to the elderly man and struck him to the head."