A CUSTOMER hurled race-hate abuse at a shopkeeper after he was refused the sale of alcohol.Newcastle Crown Court heard that Michael Mullen threatened to attack the employee of a petrol station and began a tirade of insults against at the shop worker in relation to his race. Unfortunately for Mullen, the incident was witnessed by an off-duty police worker who was also subject to abuse by Mullen.

Mullen, of Lily Crescent, Whitburn, admitted to the racially aggravated public order offence and received four months’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, with supervision.

See: Sunderland Echo