A man who racially abused a takeaway worker has been fined and ordered to pay his victim compensation.
Max Parkin, 24, found himself in the dock at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court following an incident at a takeaway in Penrith town centre, at around 12.45am on October 26 last year.
Parkin had initially approached the takeaway and continued to stare at staff inside. He appeared to challenge one employee to a fight before racially abusing him and then running away.
The incident was witnessed by the victim’s colleague – who knew Parkin from his school days.
In court Parkin, of Lowther Village, Lowther, near Penrith, admitted using racially aggravated threatening, abusive or insulting words which caused the man harassment, alarm or distress.
In a short impact statement, the takeaway worker had said: “The racial abuse that was used to me made me feel angry and upset. I have worked in Penrith for around six years. I do not expect to be racially abused for simply coming to work.”
Self-employed machine operator Parkin, a father, apologised to the court and, through his solicitor, to the victim.
Passing sentence, deputy district judge Roger Lowe gave Parkin credit for pleading guilty at the first opportunity in court. “This sort of behaviour is totally unacceptable,” said the judge. “This man is providing a service to the public.”
Parkin was fined £750. He must also pay a £300 mandatory surcharge, £85 prosecution costs and also £100 compensation to the victim.
