A MAN who admits racial abuse and ABH gave a rude gesture to a reporter twice at court.
Matthew Dolphin did the second offensive gesture as he left court with Sherie Reeve who moments earlier had been fined for punching two victims in Droitwich.
Partners Dolphin and Reeve, both of Woodmans Rise, Droitwich, appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court together on Thursday (August 31).
Reeve admitted two charges of assaulting a person thereby occasioning them actual bodily harm and magistrates moved straight to sentence for her.
Mark Hambling, prosecuting, said the 28-year-old had been in Droitwich on August 28 with Dolphin.
The prosecutor said a dispute arose between the pair and the victims.
One of the victims, a woman, said Reeve punched her to the head before grabbing her hair and throwing her.
The victim suffered a lump on her head and pain to the back of her neck.
Reeve also swung punches at another victim, the victim's partner.
"He falls to the floor and tries to protect himself," the prosecutor added.
Mr Hambling added Reeve, a mum-of-two, had no previous convictions.
Mark Sheward, defending, said Reeve had never been before a court before or ever had any involvement with police.
He explained she had been out with Dolphin and they were enjoying a nice evening.
But Mr Sheward said the male victim confronted them accusing Dolphin of being rude to his partner.
After leaving Reeve returned and, Mr Sheward said, "lashed out" and "overstepped the mark".
Mr Sheward said Reeve had also been injured in the attack.
He added Reeve had quit a job at a school following the incident and was training to be a beautician.
Judith Hulland, chairperson of the magistrates bench, fined Reeve £120 and told her to pay costs of £185 and £48 victim surcharge.
READ MORE: Four men jailed after family feud spills into violence
READ MORE: Seat driver Luke Bridger banned for drug driving on A4440 toward M5
The chairperson said no compensation was being awarded as they had found there was a "degree of provocation".
Dolphin, 30, has previously admitted racially/religiously aggravated intentional harassment/alarm/distress - words/writing and assault a person thereby occasioning them actual body harm.
Both of those offences also took place on August 28.
Dolphin denies a further offence of sexual assault on a female. The prosecution alleges that offence took place on August 28.
Dolphin was told to attend his trial on November 27 at Worcester Magistrates Court.
He will be sentenced for the offences he admits following that trial.
As Dolphin was leaving court he made the gesture before going back into the court building.
He then passed his jacket to Reeve, so her face could not be seen, before making another offensive gesture to the court reporter outside.
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