Man given conditional discharge for racist abuse of officer

Jesse Strange, 47, of High Street, Llanfyllin, admitted a racially aggravated public order offence when he appeared before Welshpool Magistrates' Court on September 8.

The court heard the incident took place in the custody suite at Newtown Police Station on June 21 after PC Njabulo Garrett had assisted in Strange's arrest.

Prosecutor Helen Tench said Strange turned to the officer while speaking to a custody sergeant and used a racist term.

The officer was confused by the remark, before Strange then directed another racist slur at him.

When the officer responded by asking: "Are you serious?", Strange was further arrested for the racially aggravated offence.

Mrs Tench said that a short time later, while being taken to a cell after kicking out at officers, Strange used another racist term towards the same officer.

Officer says abuse was 'unacceptable but distressing'

In a victim impact statement, PC Garrett described the abuse as both shocking and upsetting.

He said: "For the past five years I have been serving as a police constable where I've received countless incidents of racial abuse.

"On this occasion I was bewildered how this came about. My interaction up to that point with Strange had been minor.

"To so casually label me in a racial way was not only unacceptable but distressing.

"Nobody should have to face such language and hostility."

The officer added: "It is a disgusting and harmful view of the world.

"We must demonstrate this language and behaviour is unacceptable in this day and age."

Defence lawyer criticises handling of charge

Defending solicitor Owain Jones told magistrates he wished to express his sympathy to the officer.

"He does seem to be the target, most regrettably, not only by this defendant but by others, and I echo his disdain for this language," he said.

Mr Jones said Strange had been highly intoxicated at the time and was a vulnerable adult who had a history of mental health difficulties and ADHD.

He added: "He's owning up and sorry for these words."

However, Mr Jones also criticised the handling of the case, arguing the charge should have been dealt with at the same time as other offences arising from the same day.

He told the court: "I am rather frustrated at this case."

Mr Jones said Strange had already appeared before magistrates and been sentenced to a 12-month community order for assaulting his neighbour and another police officer on June 21.

"My notes suggest this appears to me this has been overlooked so there is great frustration not only on my part but the defendant," he said.

"It led me to think if this is an abuse of process. We haven't gone down that road but that's how strongly I feel about it."

Mr Jones asked magistrates to consider a conditional or absolute discharge, telling the court Strange was already working with probation, engaging with support and paying court fines.

Responding, prosecutor Helen Tench rejected the criticism.

"It wasn't overlooked. It wasn't an abuse of process," she said.

"Ideally he should have been charged at the same time. But it wasn't overlooked."

Magistrates impose conditional discharge

The court heard Strange is currently subject to a 12-month community order imposed in August, including a drug rehabilitation requirement.

A probation officer said Strange was engaging well with supervision and had recognised a link between substance misuse and his offending.

However, concerns remained over ongoing drug use.

Sentencing, magistrates said the racial element of the offence increased its seriousness and warranted an uplift.

They imposed a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered Strange to pay £50 compensation to the officer and a £26 victim surcharge.