Man fined £135 for racist remark to police officer
Last updated at 13:03, Thursday, 02 April 2009
A MAN racially abused a black police officer after an eight-hour booze binge, a court heard.
Scott Edward Winder, 21, admitted making a racist comment directed at PC Anthony Johnson.
Furness magistrates heard on Tuesday Winder was drinking on the pavement outside the Piel Castle Inn, Market Street, Ulverston, with a group of friends on the night of March 14.
Mr John Appleby, prosecuting, said that PC Johnson and another officer were on patrol in a car when they noticed the group stood outside the pub.
They pulled over and asked Winder and his friends to go back inside the pub.
Mr Appleby said: “Both officers said Mr Winder appeared heavily intoxicated.”
When Winder refused to go back in, a girl who was with the defendant at the time grabbed his arm and tried to pull him back inside.
While trying to do this, she dropped her glass and it smashed on the floor.
Winder then told the girl that she would be arrested by PC Johnson for dropping the glass, making a racially abusive comment in the process. PC Johnson heard the remark and arrested Winder. Mr Appleby said: “PC Johnson said ‘I felt that it (the comment) was directed at me and I found it offensive’.
“When the defendant was arrested and interviewed by police, he could not recall making the comment.
“He had been drinking since quarter to one in the afternoon and was still drinking at 9pm, when the incident occurred.”
Ms Cath McAteer, defending, told the court that Winder was ashamed of what he had said to the officer.
Ms McAteer said: “When Mr Winder was arrested, he had been drinking heavily and was not in a fit state to be interviewed. He could not remember what he said and was quite devastated to hear what he had said. He said he was not a racist person and wished to apologise to the officer.
“He put it down to the drink talking.”
Dr Raj Rathi, presiding magistrate, said: “This kind of language is not going to be tolerated in the community.”
Winder, of Casson Street, Ulverston, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment.
He was ordered to pay a £135 fine, £100 compensation to PC Johnson, £60 court costs and a victim surcharge of £15.
First published at 11:52, Thursday, 02 April 2009
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
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I hate racism its a blight on society. The policeman received £100 compensation? I'm sure he did the right thing and donated it to charity. As a policeman I am sure he was sufficiently trained as not to be left mentally scarred by one comment.
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i lived in ulverston from 1993 to 1998 with my mixed race children. they were subjected to allsorts of racial abuse, from being spat at and racial comments. the police were not very helpful to our plight. im glad to see they are taking racism seriously now.
Posted by erica whitney on 5 April 2009 at 20:27