A Hamilton beauty salon boss has admitted racist behaviour after sending another woman a cartoon picture of a laughing gorilla.
When quizzed by police officers, Simona Boswell said: "I'm stunned you actually get charged for an emoji."
The mum of one was fined £320 for making a racist Instagram post on her birthday in March last year.
She admitted acting in a racially-aggravated manner that caused, or was intended to cause, alarm or distress.
Hamilton Sheriff Court heard the victim didn't know Boswell, 44, of Kenmar Road, Hamilton.
Earlier she got a message stating 'Man in drag' from the accused's Instagram account. A second message arrived from an account named Skinworks, the accused's beauty business.
There were no words but it contained a picture of the laughing face of a gorilla. The shocked woman considered this to be racist and contacted the police.
Defence agent Laura Kiernan said the victim was "a friend of a friend" of her client.
She added: "This happened on Ms Boswell's birthday and she'd had a few drinks.
"In the cold light of day she sent a message to apologise, saying she is not a racist.
"She thoroughly regrets what she did that night. It's not a reflection of her character."
Sheriff Ray Small told first offender Boswell: "I'm prepared to deal with this leniently, given your lack of record.
"It seems to have been a one-off rather than reflective of an entrenched attitude."
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