A MAN has been slapped with a court order and banned from his favourite Chinese takeaway after his racially aggravated slurs over a curry sauce mix-up.
Jonathan McCard pleaded guilty to causing harassment, alarm or distress by using threatening, abusive or insulting words that were racially aggravated to staff at The Yungnien takeaway, in Barrow.
Furness Magistrates' Court heard that the 20-year-old had been in the Cavendish Street takeaway at around 4.30am with his girlfriend making an order on October 22.
Mr Lee Dacre, prosecuting, said a change had been made to part of the order and a refund had been given for that part. Mr Dacre said McCard had got verbally abusive about part of the order being missing.
Mr Dacre said McCard had told Miu Choi he would contact Trading Standards and that "they would send her back home", by which she thought he meant Hong Kong.
The court heard that Mrs Choi's son, Gavin Choi, came to the front of the takeaway and McCard had mocked him and sworn at him using racist language for wearing an apron. Mr Dacre said there was another slur and another customer in the takeaway thought it was inappropriate.
The prosecutor said McCard had no previous convictions.
Miss Maureen Fawcett, defending McCard, said he was "appalled" by his "over the top" behaviour over a pot of curry sauce.
Miss Fawcett said: "He wants to apologise for his actions. It was a misunderstanding about some curry sauce. He accepts he has gone completely over the top.
"He has always gone there, it's his favourite Chinese takeaway and now he is barred from there.
"He clearly said things that were wrong. He has offered to apologise in writing. He told me 'I'm appalled by my actions'."
Miss Fawcett said McCard didn't go out regularly, but when he did he sometimes drank more than he should.
Chairwoman of the magistrates, Mrs Sharon Gillam, said: "This was a nasty incident on someone undertaking their job."
Mrs Gillam said while there were two victims, an independent witness was also shocked.
The magistrates ordered McCard, of Cavendish Street, Barrow, to carry out 80 hours unpaid work as part of a 12 month community order.
He must also pay £50 compensation to each of the victims and pay an £85 victim surcharge.
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