CPS West Midlands: Successful Hate Crime Cases – July to September 2024
From July to September 2024, the CPS West Midlands Magistrates’ court unit successfully prosecuted various hate crime cases. Below are some of the cases.
On 11 January 2024, the 26 -year- old defendant from Islington was onboard a London Underground Tube, when he homophobically abused two passengers on several occasions. He was charged with two public order offences. He admitted the offences and was sentenced on 5 September 2024 at Westminster Magistrates’Court. He received a suspended sentence, with unpaid work hours attached which were increased to reflect the hate crime. He was also ordered to pay compensation to both victims.
On 8 May 2024, the 43-year-old defendant from Stourport-on-Severn shouted homophobic abuse and threats towards a member of the public before spitting in her face. He then proceeded to shout further homophobic comments at her. At Worcester Magistrates’ Court he was convicted after trial on 25 July 2024 and was sentenced later to a community order. The number of unpaid work hours were increased to reflect the hate crime and he was ordered to pay compensation to the complainant.
On 7 February, the 57-year-old defendant from Hove made transphobic comments towards a passenger on a train. He was charged with a public order offence, which he admitted at court on 27 August 2024. He was sentenced to a community order where elements of that order were increased to reflect the hate crime.
On 26 August 2024, the 37-year-old defendant from Birmingham, approached a male in a car, where he repeatedly directed anti-Muslim abuse at the male before pulling him from his car. He was charged with a religiously aggravated assault. He admitted the offence and was sentenced on 26 September 2024 at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court. He received a suspended sentence with the period of imprisonment extended to reflect the hate crime and was ordered to pay compensation to the complainant.
On 21 June 2024, a Warwickshire youth racially abused another youth in a public park. He was charged with a public order offence, which he admitted. At Coventry Magistrates’ court on 19 September 2024, he was sentenced to a referral order, and his parent was ordered to pay compensation to the victim.