A man’s racist outburst in a kebab shop led magistrates to impose a six-month restraining order to prevent him from going into the premises or contacting the owner.
Gary Eyre (47), of King Street, Sutton Bridge, pleaded guilty to a racially aggravated public order offence when he appeared at Spalding Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
Eyre was fined £185 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.
Noel Philo, prosecuting, said the owner of The Family Kebab shop, Mustafa Egilmez, was in his premises in Bridge Road, Sutton Bridge, on April 14 when Eyre came in.
Eyre made reference to three different nationalities – using swear words to say what he thought of them – and threatened to break a window in the shop and in a car.
Mr Philo said Mr Egilmez was upset by the words used and by the racial element.
Solicitor Mike Alexander, mitigating, said Eyre maintained he made no threats to break any windows, but accepted his behaviour was disorderly.
He said there was some discussion between Eyre and the kebab shop owners about them sending him texts, which Eyre didn’t want them to do.
“Clearly the kebab shop have a database and they send reminders to customers on offers in the shop,” said Mr Alexander.
Mr Alexander said Eyre says he is not a racist but accepts racist words may have come out in the heat of the argument.
The solicitor said: “He stands back today and says ‘I am not racist, but I do accept that my behaviour was wrong and my language was peppered with swear words. My language was also peppered with racist comments that I had no intention of making, but perhaps in the heat of the argument they did come out’.”
Mr Alexander questioned the need for a restraining order as Eyre has no intention of going back to the shop.