Ex-councillor puts ‘curse’ on magistrates as he is spared jail
He puts ‘curse’ on magistrates as he is sentenced for racial abuse and threatening court staff
AFORMER councillor who launched an astonishing foul-mouthed rant at magistrates has walked free from court.
Noel O’Brien, from Helmshore, was being sentenced at Blackburn Magistrates Court when he placed a ‘curse’ on the justices before warning them: “You people will be judged before Jesus Christ Almighty when you appear before those pearly gates.”
The 66-year-old, who previously served as a Rossendale Labour councillor and as an independent, had earlier pleaded guilty to separate incidents of racially abusing a taxi driver, threatening court staff and twice failing to provide breath spec- imen samples to police when he was suspected of drink driving.
He was given a 12-week jail sentence, suspended for 12 months with a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement, disqualified from driving for 36 months and ordered to pay costs and compensation totalling £975.
As the sentence was being read out, O’Brien shouted to the magistrates ‘be quiet’ and ‘you’re misguided’.
When he was told that he had been disqualified from driving he said ‘Jesus, Mary and Joseph’ before smirking.
O’Brien, wearing a Simpsons cartoon tie and a St Patrick’s day green pin, then yelled: “Can I just say your worships that hell will freeze over before I pay compensation to privateers and liars. I’ll go to jail now. Take me back.
“I’m not taking this s***. A curse on you and your family and all your relatives. This is such a travesty of justice.
“You people will be judged before Jesus Christ Almighty when you appear before those pearly gates.
“I’ve got more chance of going to Heaven than those three Tory b*******.
“Since I have been 22 years old I’ve had nothing but contempt for this stupid system.”
The Free Press revealed last month how O’Brien was remanded into custody after attending a preliminary hearing at Blackburn Magistrates Court before being released earlier this month after a further bail hearing.
During the earlier hearing O’Brien made another outburst to magistrates when he said “with great respect Your Worships, you don’t know your **** from your elbow” after his application for bail was refused.