Yob hurled racist abuse at elderly shopkeeper
VICTIM CONDEMNED ‘DARK AGES’ BEHAVIOUR
A PROLIFIC lout subjected an elderly postmaster to appalling racist abuse inside his own shop.
Drunk Carl Needham, who was previously jailed for glassing an exgirlfriend, shouted the offensive slurs at Rafaqat Ali – who has since died – when he lost his temper inside his store in Benwell, Newcastle. A court heard that 34-year-old entered the post office and first said “make me leave” when he was asked to quieten down, forcing the victim to reply that he was “too elderly” to fight.
Mr Ali’s response seemed to spur Needham into a deeper rage and he began shouting the racist abuse and shaking a screen, which Mr Ali was stood behind.
The police were called and Mr Ali shut the shop’s shutters in order to keep Needham at the scene while officers arrived, prosecutors said.
Needham, of Hodgsons Road, Blyth, has now been given an 18-month community order after he pleaded guilty to a raciallyaggravated public order offence at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court.
Niamh Reading, prosecuting, said Mr Ali was working behind the counter in his post office on the afternoon of December 1 last year when Needham entered and was immediately “very vocal”.
Miss Reading continued: “Mr Ali did tell him to stop shouting. The defendant then became very aggressive, shouting “Come on, make me leave”. Mr Ali said he was too elderly to fight him.
“The defendant continued to shout at him, saying “You nonce, you p **** b ****** ”.
“The defendant continued to berate Mr Ali, shouting “You black b ****** ”. The defendant got more and more angry.
“The defendant came towards the counter where Mr Ali was stood and took hold of the perspex screen in front of him and shook it. Mr Ali was scared for him and his colleagues.”
In a statement, Mr Ali said: “I’m appalled that I was racially abused in my own store in 2021. This sort of behaviour should be confined to the Dark Ages and I don’t expect to come to work and be a victim of such abuse. I hope this male feels the full force of justice.”
The court heard that Needham, who was arrested at the scene, had 14 offences on his record and was jailed for a serious assault on his expartner
in 2020.
Neil Connell, defending, said Needham had pleaded guilty and was currently being financially supported by is mother after his benefits were sanctioned.
Needham was also fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.