Loughborough Echo

Doorman was racially abused

Labelled Al Quaeda member

- CIARAN FAGAN

A CLUBBER called a doorman an Al Quaeda member after the man told him he was barred and would not be allowed into the venue.

Spencer Alexander was in the queue for Revolution, in Loughborou­gh town centre, when his victim spotted him and reminded him he was banned because of his behaviour on a previous occasion.

Alexander became agitated and threatenin­g and, as well as the Al Qaeda slur, directed other racist insults at the doorman, a court heard.

The 23-year-old, of Ling Road, Loughborou­gh, appeared at Leicester Magistrate­s’ Court to admit a single charge of racially or religiousl­y aggravated harassment.

Prosecutor Maimuna Bappa told the court that Alexander was queuing to get into the Baxter Gate bar when the victim spotted him and reminded his colleagues he was barred and should not be allowed in.

Ms Bappa said Alexander lost his temper when his victim spoke to him.

She said: “He was jumping on the spot and punching his hands together.

“Efforts were made to restrain him and he continued to shout and swear at the victim.

“When he was interviewe­d, he said he had no recollecti­on of events, although he accepts he was at Revolution and had been banned previously - but he said he did not realise it was a permanent ban.

“He stated he had consumed a lot of alcohol that night.”

Alexander has previous conviction­s for criminal damage and assaulting an emergency services worker.

Neither offence had a racially or religiousl­y aggravated element, Ms Bappa added.

Andrew Bolc, representi­ng Alexander, told the court: “He seems to be a young man who has an issue with alcohol when mixed with his diagnosis of ADHD.”

Magistrate Janet Foster told him: “We are going to give you some unpaid community work.

“It would have been 80 hours but we have uplifted it to 120 hours because of the racially aggravated element of what you did.”

He was also ordered to pay £100 compensati­on to his victim and a £90 victim surcharge.

He will not have to pay the prosecutio­n costs as the magistrate­s wanted to ‘prioritise’ the compensati­on payment.

She added: “Hopefully, we will not see you again.”

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