A man has been jailed for 26 weeks following an incident in a Swindon alleyway.
Eugene Day, aged 46, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated assault and section 4 public order and was sentenced at Swindon Magistrates Court on 15 June.
During the afternoon of Saturday 26 May, police were called to a report of an assault in Whitehead Street. The caller reported that the offender was now armed with a cricket bat.
Officers attended the scene and found that Day had racially abused a Polish man aged in his 20s. When the man ignored Day and walked into a nearby garden with friends, Day threw a full beer can at his head. The victim’s father came to his son’s defence and pushed Day away.
Day left the scene, but returned five minutes later carrying a cricket bat.
The victim called police immediately and when officers arrived they were provided with a photo of the suspect by a witness. One of the officers recognised Day from the photo and attended an address nearby where Day was located inside with the cricket bat. He was arrested and taken to Gablecross custody.
Last week, he was sentenced to a total of 26 weeks imprisonment, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £115 and £100 compensation.
PC Jonathan Kilburn said: “Day was intoxicated on the afternoon of 26 May when he shouted racial abuse at a Polish man near to Swindon town centre before throwing a beer can at him. This was a completely unprovoked attack and Day’s actions were completely unacceptable. Despite the victim’s father defending his son and pushing Day away, he later returned to the scene with a cricket bat causing the victim and his friends and family to feel threatened and frightened.
“Day left the scene when police were called but we were able to locate him quickly and arrest him.
“He is now serving a prison sentence. I hope this sends a clear message that behaviour of this nature will not be tolerated – it can cause fear, upset and distress to people within our communities.
“We’d like to reassure the local community that we will take action following any reports of hate crimes – do not suffer in silence. Call police on 101 or report it via the True Vision website www.report-it.org.uk. Call 999 if a crime is in progress.”
