Man fined for yelling racist threats in street
A RACIST has been fined after shouting “I will stab you p***s” outside a Newcastle supermarket.
John Mark made the vile threats to a man while standing near Asda, in Fenham, in the city’s West End, one morning in May.
The victim was so shocked by the 37-yearold’s racist abuse he later “burst into tears”, South East Northumberland Magistrates’ Court was told. Mark, who is now homeless but formerly lived in Bentinck Terrace, in Elswick, denied a public order offence and was due to stand trial in June but failed to show.
The case against him was proved in his absence and a warrant issued for his arrest.
Mark appeared in custody at the same court on Monday, where he was fined £180 and ordered to pay £100 compensation.
Magistrates heard that Mark suffered from serious mental health issues, including schiz- ophrenia, and was kicked out of the hostel he was living at as a result of the incident.
Alan Brown, mitigating, said: “He was begging at the Asda store at the time. The fact he was begging made with disfavour with the man concerned and he spoke to Mr Mark in aggressive terms. His response, however, was immoderate.
“It was said in the heat of the moment – he doesn’t actually have any racist views.”