'Not racist' customer picked up broom handle and shouted shocking abuse at shopkeeper
A customer who picked up a broom handle and shouted shocking abuse at a shopkeeper has kept her freedom.
Dionne Alexander had previously been banned for causing “disturbances” at the store in Washington when she turned up again in April 2024.
Newcastle Crown Court heard she had initially stayed at the front door and asked staff to get the owner as she wanted to apologise about previous incidents.
Prosecutor Joe Culley said she was told to leave and trouble flared when she returned as the owner was closing the store.
Mr Culley said: “At around 6.10pm the defendant attended the shop. She was stood at the front door and asked a member of staff to fetch the owner as she wanted to apologise to him.
“He could see her on the CCTV and he asked the staff member to tell her to leave or else he would call the police.”
Later, as he closed the shop, he heard “very loud banging” at the front of the premises and heard the defendant making threats to kill him.
Mr Culley added: “He went back into the shop to dial 999 and watched on CCTV as the defendant was at the metal shutters and could hear her shouting.”
The court heard Alexander was holding a broom handle and carried on shouting for around four or five minutes.
In an impact statement, the shopkeeper said he was affected by the racial abuse as he has lived in the UK all of his life and felt targeted due to the colour of his skin.
Alexander, 32, of Herburn Gardens, Washington, admitted having an offensive weapon and causing racially aggravated fear of violence.
Judge Robert Adams sentenced Alexander, who is transgender, has been bullied in the past and is “not racist”, to six months in jail, which was suspended for 12 months, with a five-year restraining order in relation to the shop.
Claire Anderson, defending, said the incident stemmed from an argument between her partner and the shopkeeper, adding: “She accepts she was intoxicated and is absolutely mortified by her behaviour.”
The court heard Alexander, who has suffered bereavements and has mental health problems, has suffered comments being made to her in the past and is “all about equality and diversity”.