Kidderminster man sentenced for racially abusing CSO (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Kidderminster man sentenced for racially abusing CSO

2:23pm Friday 19th October 2012 in Local

A KIDDERMINSTER man has received a nine-month community order for racially abusing an off-duty community support officer who intervened when he saw him stealing.

The CSO had popped into the Tesco Express on Stourport Road, leaving his wife and children in the car, and saw James Taylor take a large bottle of beer off the shelf and conceal it under his t-shirt.

The CSO told a member of staff, who spoke to Taylor and told him to leave the store. Taylor made threatening gestures towards the CSO, and then as the CSO went back to the car to check on his family, he began racially abusing him.

Taylor, 28, of Bewdley Road, admitted theft and racially aggravated harassment when he appeared at Kidderminster magistrates court on Wednesday, 17 October. He was given a nine month community order.

Sergeant Jan Shore of West Mercia Police said: "The CSO was off duty, enjoying a Sunday afternoon with his family, when he witnessed the theft.

"He was being a good citizen in alerting a member of staff to the theft and was subjected to some very unpleasant threatening behaviour and verbal abuse in front of his wife and children.

"Racial abuse causes immense distress and is treated extremely seriously by the police. We hope this case sends a clear message that it will not be tolerated."