Woman cleared of assault

A woman who grabbed at the headscarf of a fast-food worker has been cleared of assault.

Frankie Schock, of St Peters Street, Maidstone appeared before magistrates on Tuesday, following the incident at Burger King in Union Street, which was captured on CCTV.

But the 30-year-old walked free, after magistrates decided her actions did not constitute assault.

If she had been found guilty, magistrates would then have had to determine whether the assault was racially or religiously aggravated.

Chairing the bench at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court, Andrew Backway told Miss Schock: “The words you used that day were absolutely disgraceful. Had you been charged with a public order offence you would have been found guilty.”

Witnesses to the incident on June 18 told the court Miss Schock had demanded food and change from a till worker, despite not making any order.

The court heard Miss Schock, who said she had no memory of the incident, told the member of staff to “go back to your country”.