Suspected drink-driver racially abused police officer calling him a monkey and saying he should be hanged

Anthony Scott, 32, of Murray Avenue, Houghton, told the shocked PC, “You’re lucky to be alive, I would hang you”, a court heard.

In the same roadside rant on Saturday, December 7, he swore at him in racial terms, compared him to Muhammad Ali and said to his fellow officer, “Your colleague, he’s a monkey”.

He then repeatedly refused to take a breath test, despite police finding an opened beer can in his car’s cupholder, South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court was told.

Scott was handed a 16-week jail term, suspended for 18 months, for the racial abuse, and given a 30-month driving ban.

Prosecutor Glenda Beck said: “In the early hours, the PCs were on the A690 when their attention was drawn to a Vauxhall Corsa which was driving erratically.

“They suspected the driver of drinking and driving and stopped the vehicle.

“He smelled of alcohol and showed signs of being drunk and there was an open can of beer in the cupholder and several unopened on the seats.

“He became racially abusive to the officer and says, ‘Are you black or white?’ and refused to give his details.

“He was warned about his behaviour and the officer tried to continue with the breath test.

“He called him ‘Muhammad Ali’ and said, ‘Are you talking about your colleague? He’s a monkey.”

The prosecutor said Scott went on to say ‘they don’t like’ black people in ‘America’, and ‘they hang’ them, adding ‘you’re lucky to be alive, I would hang you’.

Mrs Beck said Scott failed to take a roadside breath test and also refused repeated requests to do so at a police station – and then gave a ‘no comment’ interview.

While on bail after pleading guilty to causing racially motivated harassment, alarm or distress, and failing to provide a specimen for analysis, Scott also harassed his former partner, the court heard.

He contacted her between May 25 and May 27 by electronic means and by visiting her home, despite being bailed on condition he kept away, a charge he also admitted at a previous hearing.

Ian Cassidy, defending Scott, who appeared at the court via video link from HMP Durham, said: “He’s absolutely shocked and disgusted at his behaviour and language.

“He can’t believe that he used such language. He says that he is shocked and haunted by that language and that he doesn’t really see himself in that light and accepts there’s an issue.

“On October 19 he went off the rails. He was living in his car and was drinking. He accepts everything that he said. He apologised to the police.”

Of the harassment charge, he added: “He tells me they were at best persistent messages, they were not threatening. They are wishing to reconcile.”

Scott was also given two eight-week sentences, suspended for 18 months and to run concurrently, for failing to provide a specimen and for harassment.

He must complete 35 days’ rehabilitation work with the Probation Service, abide by a 12-week 6.30pm to 6am curfew and pay a £128 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

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