A man who threw a chocolate bar at a fellow Whitehaven mobile phone repair shop customer while intoxicated on Mad Friday has been ordered to pay her £100 compensation.
Carlisle Crown Court heard how the woman went into Tech World mini mart in the town at around 6pm on Friday, December 16 last year — a day when many people celebrate finishing work before the Christmas period.
As she was getting her phone fixed, two intoxicated men came into the store with a device that also required a repair.
The American woman laughed with the pair at first. But she was then racially abused by one of the men, who used a verbal “Yank” slur before he threatened to rip her eyelashes out.
The second man, 23-year-old Alex Crellin, of Muncaster Road, Whitehaven, then hurled a chocolate bar which hit the woman on her head.
In an impact statement, she later described how the incident had made her scared to leave her home in the aftermath.
Prosecutor Isabella Denn-White told the court: “Reference is made to it being Mad Friday, the last Friday (work night out) before Christmas, and she is now fearful of going out on this day.”
A 25-year-old man from the Whitehaven man admitted a racially aggravated public order charge and was fined more than £1,000 during a magistrates’ court hearing last month.
When Crellin appeared at the crown court today he admitted a common assault charge with his lawyer calling the offence a serious lapse of judgement.
Judge Michael Fanning imposed a 12-month community order. Crellin must complete 60 hours’ unpaid work and pay £100 compensation.
“I have to categorise your offending,” said Judge Fanning to the defendant. “This is two on to one; all the more distressing for the victim in the case.”
