Man yelled racial abuse when ill due to lockdown

TIRADE RUINED RAMADAN FOR NEIGHBOURS HE INSULTED

A MAN whose mental health suffered during the lockdown ended up hurling racial abuse at his neighbours during a four-hour meltdown.

Haroon Mohamad had previously got on well with fellow residents of Aberdale Road, in Knighton, Leicester.

But on May 3 the 41-year-old was said to have acted “completely out of character” when, while hanging out of a window, he shouted offensive remarks.

He also threatened to smash in a man’s face, set his dogs on him and do something indecent to the victim’s pregnant wife.

The shocked couple were left fearful, stressed and anxious, Elizabeth Dodds, prosecuting, told Leicester Crown Court.

Mohamad “delivered a substantial amount of racial and religious abuse resulting in numerous calls being made to the police, causing particular offence to three people from two households”, she said.

Miss Dodds said Mohamad’s behaviour “caused considerable upset”.

“Some witnesses who have lived there for a number of years and had no previous issues with him said that after the lockdown was implemented, it had a negative impact on the defendant’s mental well-being,” she said.

The married couple who were abused said in a victim impact statement: “Ramadan was ruined because of the anxiety and upset.”

Mohamad pleaded guilty to three counts of racially aggravated harassment, causing alarm and distress.

Judge Philip Head said: “It’s common ground the defendant’s offensive behaviour towards three victims was out of character and can be ascribed to his mental condition at the time.

“It’s an unusual case and no doubt the consequence of his mental health that someone from one community was using abusive terms to someone from a similar community.

“There was a period when he was unfit to be proceeded with at court, but as soon as he was fit he entered guilty pleas.”

Shital Maher, mitigating, said Mohamad had received treatment and made good progress. She also said he was planning to move home.

Mohamad was placed on a threeyear community order with a condition to comply with mental health treatment. He was made the subject of a three-year restraining order banning any contact with the victims.