Racist attack brings man to court

ROBERT Parr shouted racist abuse and pushed an eight-year-old girl after going on a seven-day bender, Ipswich magistrates heard.

Parr, 34, of Punchard Way in Trimley St Mary, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated threatening behaviour before South East Suffolk Magistrates Court.

Godfried Duah, prosecuting, told the court that Parr entered Grange Stores in Felixstowe around 8.30pm on April 5 and began being abusive.

Mr Duah said Parr swore at an eight-year-old girl and pushed her. He then began swearing at the staff, calling them "Pakis" and saying the Americans would come and kick them out.

Mr Duah added: "This was a public place where other people were present. The little girl was even pushed over.

"People were acting in the course of their work and they should not be subject to this sort of abuse."

Diana Infanti, mitigating, said: "Mr Parr had been out drinking. He says he had been out on a bender for seven days.

"He had gone into the shop and cannot really remember being abusive, but he was very grumpy that day.

"He says he has children of his own and cannot remember pushing the child, although he was swaggering.

"He says he was aggravated because the queue was moving slowly and he was drunk. He cannot remember calling them 'Pakis' and has never been racially abusive."

She added that Parr had started drinking after his partner left him, taking the children, but that he was now cutting down on the amount of alcohol he drinks.

Chairman of the bench Walter Welch told the court that the aggravating features were that the victim was put in fear and that the victim was serving the public, as well as the fact that a child was present and alcohol was involved.

Parr was sentenced to a 12-month rehabilitation order, with the condition that he attends an accredited behaviour programme, and 60 hours of community punishment.

He was also bound over to the sum of £100 to keep the peace for 12 months.