A MAGISTRATE was left disappointed he could not hand out a harsher punishment to a man for his “bonkers” behaviour after drinking about 12 pints of cider.
Mark Walker, of Rose Avenue, Tolladine, Worcester, was fined more than £300 for resisting PC Figueiredo and being drunk and disorderly in Angel Place at about 3am on Sunday, August 4.
The 22-year-old was also found guilty of using racially aggravated threatening or abusive language while in police custody.
On Tuesday, chairman of the bench, Michael Pilling, described the offences as “bonkers” and “silly”, saying Walker’s use of racist language was “beyond comprehension in this day and age” and “regrettably we can only deal with it through a fine.”
Mr Pilling wanted to order Walker to pay compensation to a member of the door staff but was unable to as the comments were not made towards him.
He said: “You can make abusive comments but as long as you don’t make them in the direction of anyone, it doesn’t matter. How daft are we getting?
“You are lucky you got away with that.”
Kerry Brookes, prosecuting, said PC Figueiredo became aware of an altercation between several men and the door staff outside Ayaan’s, Angel Street, before asking Walker to leave a number of times.
Walker was restrained after he refused and threw a can of drink at the floor but Mrs Brookes said he “tried to get out of the grip of the officer” and CS gas was used to get him under control. She said Walker used a number of racist terms to describe the member of door staff while at the police station.
David Olivere, defending, said Walker’s plan had been to go home after getting some food but he got into an argument with the man over a request to tidy up a table in the takeaway.
Mr Olivere said Walker “felt there was a little bit too much force used upon him” by the police and his language at the station was “born out of frustration” at the situation.
Walker, who pleaded guilty to all three charges, was fined £100 for resisting the police officer, £118 for being drunk and disorderly in a public place and £100 for the racially aggravated threatening or abusive language. He was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £20.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article