A DRUNK man racially abused a white woman behind the counter at Worcester Police Station after drinking a bottle of wine.
John Pugh admitted racially aggravated harassment against the enquiries officer when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday.
The 57-year-old of Spring Hill, Worcester, was convicted of an identical offence earlier last year although the details of that were not disclosed in open court.
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Pugh was at it again when he used offensive language to describe the woman while she was trying to help him at the police station on October 6 last year.
Eleanor Peart, prosecuting, said Pugh approached the desk and appeared to be 'agitated and argumentative'.
"In her words, he was goading her," said Miss Peart. When he sat back down on one of the benches she heard him make reference to her being 'white' and also used an obscenity to describe her. He later returned, 'shouting and swearing'.
"The incident caused her alarm and distress. She said he was aggressive and he had upset her and there was concern he would recognise her in public" said Miss Peart.
Another member of the public, waiting for an appointment, had also witnessed what Pugh did. In interview the defendant accepted 'he probably did seem agitated because he had had a bottle of wine'.
In March 2021, Pugh was convicted of the same offence.
Jo Outhwaite, defending, said Pugh struggled with stress and anxiety and used alcohol as a coping mechanism.
Mrs Outhwaite said: "The reason he believes he went into the police station was to report and get advice with regard to some difficult issues with his neighbours. He was extremely stressed. He was very upset."
The solicitor, who asked that he be given credit for his early guilty plea, added: "This wasn't simple, deliberate abuse on his part. It was reactionary."
Magistrates fined him £200, ordered him to pay a victim surcharge of £34, costs of £185 and compensation to the woman he racially abused of £50.
The court heard how he already owed the court £3,037.
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