A man racially abused a detention officer and injured a cleaning during two separate visits to Swindon’s custody suite, a court heard.
Police received a 999 call on 9 March reporting a male banging on the door of a property in Sheppard Street. Kris Cooper, 36, was arrested nearby after causing damage to the door which belonged to his then-girlfriend.
The defendant, of Culvery Court, was taken to Gablecross custody where he racially abused a male detention officer, calling him a “daft c**t” and a “d**khead”.
But more significantly, he went on to say “You’re not even from here, you’re foreign”, adding: “Brexit has happened, you need to go home”.
Defending him at Swindon Magistrates’ Court last week, his solicitor said his mouth had overtaken his feelings and he is sorry for what was said.
On 20 November last year, Cooper had ended up in custody at Gablecross. During this stay, he’d taken a phone call from his mother and the call had been terminated – the reason unclear. As a result, he became irate and aggressive.
He’s said to have kicked a cleaning in progress warning sign, hitting a female cleaner. She suffered a minor injury. On his way back to his cell, he continued to kick out at walls.
His solicitor said it was a reckless act and not intentional, and he apologised to the cleaner.
Cooper pleaded guilty to a racially-aggravated public order offence and assault by beating. He was ordered to pay £150 compensation to the detention officer and £50 to the custody suite cleaner.
Having also been convicted of two counts of being drunk and disorderly and one count of criminal damage, and hearing that Cooper was already subject to a post-sentence supervision order, magistrates sentenced him to a 12-month community order with 30 rehabilitation activity days.
He faces a trial at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on 2 September this year having been accused of damaging a phone box in The Parade, Swindon town centre.
