Teenager's racist rant to drinks store staff
Joseph Peter Thomas, aged 18, of Lion Street, Swansea pleaded guilty to using religiously aggravated threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent when he came before Swansea magistrates.
The incident happened at the Cocktails off-licence in Neath Road, Swansea at about 10pm on June 9.
Anwen Evans, prosecuting, said the victim in the case was the store's assistant manager Nadeem Mahmood, who saw Thomas outside the premises.
"Mr Thomas was opening the front door which had been closed," said Mrs Evans.
"Once the door was open he stood in the inside of the doorway."
The court heard that Mr Mahmood reminded Thomas that he was banned from the shop and asked him to leave.
But Thomas stuck his finger up at him and said, "Come out here and I will sort you out myself."
"While serving customers he could hear Mr Thomas swearing profusely," said Mrs Evans.
She said Thomas then stepped outside the shop and gestured again for Mr Mahmood to come outside.
"Mr Mahmood then heard a loud thud where a stack of newspapers had been knocked over," said Mrs Evans.
She said he felt fearful for his safety and called the police.
"While he was on the phone to the police he saw Mr Thomas use his left hand to make a gun style gesture towards him," said Mrs Evans.
Thomas was then heard to say "bang" loudly, before making a derogatory hand gesture and shouting an obscenity about Allah.
Thomas was arrested and admitted he had been at the store, but claimed shop staff were intimidating towards him and wouldn't let him buy a can of coke because he was one penny short.
"He said he wanted to intimidate the staff the way he had been and wanted them to feel that violence would be used," said Mrs Evans.
"He said that he used the word Allah to annoy the staff because they are Pakistanis."
He denied being racist, saying that he has a black girlfriend and many Pakistani friends.
He said he had take Valium and didn't remember the whole incident.
Thomas was sentenced to three months in a young offender institution, suspended for 12 months.
He must also adhere to a three-month curfew order and was ordered to pay £150 costs.
