A TEENAGER accused of racially abusing a man during a flashpoint outside a Workington nightspot has gone on trial.
Olivia Glasson, 19, denies one charge which alleges racially aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress. This arises out of an incident outside Padua’s nightclub, Washington Street, just after 3am on January 26 last year.
Glasson’s trial began at Carlisle Crown Court today (WED), when prosecutor Brendan Burke described an initial “attack” on the complainant, Charles Peat, by Miss Glasson’s mother.
“That comes to the knowledge of Olivia Glasson who, no doubt affected by drink, reacts by flying into a rage, approaching Charles Peat and racially abusing him,” Mr Burke alleged.
He told jurors they would hear the words allegedly spoken to Mr Peat, whose mother is from the Philippines, and that others had witnessed the incident.
“There came a time when Miss Glasson was questioned about this by the police. She said it wasn’t true,” stated Mr Burke.
The prosecutor said Glasson, of Garth Road, Workington, had insisted “there was no racist language at all, and that she wouldn’t do that”.
Mr Burke said to jurors: “You decide whether Mr Peat and other witnesses are telling the truth, or not, in a nutshell.”
The trial continues.
