A man who made racist comments to a Carlisle chip shop worker after drinking all day has been handed another prison sentence.
Andrew John Jason Bell, 45, had not long been released from custody when he went to the Home and Away fast food outlet on the city’s Crescent on the evening of February 23.
The Polish female shop worker noted he appeared drunk, describing him as off his head and struggling to take out money and carry out simple tasks.
After being sold a portion of chips, he was asked to get up off the floor he had sat on, and was heard speaking loudly on a mobile phone.
Bell said to the woman “you don’t tell me what to do”, and then used racist language towards her. “This has caused me distress,” she later told police.
In a rambling interview with officers, the defendant stated he had flipped after drinking all day, had done what Bell does best, adding: “What can I say? Bell’s done it again.”
Bell, of no fixed address, admitted a racially aggravated public order offence and was sentenced at Carlisle magistrates’ court today when defence lawyer John Smith conceded the defendant had an appalling criminal record.
Addressing magistrates as he appeared in court remotely over a video link from custody, Bell said: “I just want to apologise for the racist comments I made towards the woman in the chip shop. I’m not racist. It was a stupid thing to come out with. I apologise for any distress I’ve caused.”
Magistrates said there was several aggravating factors in the case, and noted that at the time Bell was subject to a criminal behaviour order which had been put in place to curb his drinking and disturbing behaviour.
He was handed a four-week prison sentence but has been recalled on licence to serve the remainder of a previous sentence, and is not due for release until December.
