A racist woman’s ‘disgusting’ outburst left a custody detention officer ‘very upset’.
Appearing at Swindon Magistrates’ Court today (Wednesday 17 August), Aiysha Thomas pleaded guilty to using racially-aggravated threatening, abusive or insulting words with intent.
Prosecutor Pauline Lambert said the 19-year-old defendant, of Norcliffe Road, Park South, was arrested following a dispute with her partner on 9 April this year.
When she was brought to the custody desk at Gablecross Police Station at around 1am, she was abusive towards everyone there – but most notably a female detention officer.
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Thomas looked at the officer and said: “What are you looking at you black f***ing n***er?”.
Ms Lambert said the officer was alarmed by the comments and in her statement, said she doesn’t expect to be racially abused when she goes to work.
Gordon Hotson, defending, said his client was “highly distressed” following her arrest, but accepts she used an unacceptable term towards the detention officer.
He said that in interview, when the comment was put to her by the police, she was “so embarrassed” and “mortified” – before expressing remorse.
He added that Thomas has been struggling with the death of her mother in 2021 and now lives with her partner and his family.
District Judge Joanna Dickens described her crime as “outrageous”.
She added: “It was deeply out of order in every single way to use such hostile languages and it has no place in our society.
“That term is particularly disgusting… quite rightly very upset by what happened.”
Thomas was fined £50. She was also told to pay £100 compensation to the detention officer and a £20 surcharge. No costs were awarded due to her lack of means.
