Army veteran fined after appalling racist attack
A former soldier who pulled a teenage boy’s dreadlocks out and spat at his 16-year-old female friend in a double racist attack in Sunderland must pay over £2,500 as punishment.
Stephen Westwood, 56, approached his victims as they peacefully walked home through the city centre on Friday, February 14 last year, a court heard.
After being asked by them if he had “a staring problem” and if he was “ok”, Westwood, of Southwick Road, Southwick, made an offensive racist comment.
He then grabbed at the 17-year-old boy’s hair, inflicting pain as he pulled, and spat at the girl but did not make contact.
His words were captured on mobile phone footage taken by one of his victims during an incident described by his own solicitor as “appalling”, but his spit attack was not.
Westwood pleaded guilty to assaulting the boy but denied spitting but was found guilty at trial at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.
Magistrates ordered him to pay compensation of £300 to the boy and £200 to the girl and fined him £972, with £650 court costs and a £389 victim surcharge.
Prosecutor Jade Houston told the court: “The victims were walking home with friends when they were approached by two males.
“Both males approached and one of the victims asked if they had a staring problem. Another asked if he was ok. It was captured on video.
“This defendant has walked towards one victim and pulled his hair, causing dreadlocks to come out and causing pain.
“Another witness confirmed there were racist remarks, and the male spat towards her but didn’t know if it made contact.
“He’s pulled the hair of the 17-year-old who had dreadlocks and spat on a victim who was 16 at the time.”
Westwood pleaded guilty to a charge of racially or religiously aggravated common assault or beating, and denied the same charge when it went to trial.
Nick Moore, defending, described Westwood as a “proud” military veteran who had served between 1988 and 1995 in Iraq, Serbia, Bosnia and Northern Ireland.
Mr Moore said his client had been left with mental health trauma as a result, including PTSD and Gulf War Syndrome.
He added: “He pleaded on the basis that he did not spit. He accepts this is aggravated by the racial element.
“There is evidence that he is remorseful. He accepts that his behaviour was appalling on this night.”