CPS West Midlands: Successful Hate Crime Cases – February to April 2025

During February to April 2025, the CPS West Midlands Magistrates’ and Crown court units successfully prosecuted various hate crime cases. Below are some of the cases.

On 19 September 2024, the 47-year-old defendant from Wokingham, racially abused a member of staff at Reading Railway Station after being confronted for not having a valid ticket to travel. On 13 February 2025, the defendant pleaded guilty to a racially aggravated public order act offence at Reading Magistrates’ Court and was sentenced to a 12-month conditional discharge which was increased from six months to reflect the hate crime element. The defendant was also ordered to pay £100 compensation to the complainant.

On 31 August 2024, the 44-year-old defendant from Norfolk, made racially aggravated gestures towards supporters of the opposing football team at Coventry City Football ground in front of members of the public and stadium staff. He appeared before Coventry Magistrates’ Court on 3 February 2025, where he entered a guilty plea to a racially aggravated public order act offence and was sentenced to a six-month conditional discharge which was increased from four months to reflect the hate crime element. He was also made subject to a three-year football banning order.

On 1 June 2024, the 37-year-old defendant from Greenwich, was travelling on the London underground when he directed homophobic abuse at members of the public. He was subsequently charged with a public order act offence in relation to these comments along with other offences. The defendant pleaded guilty to the offence, and on 25 February 2025 he was sentenced to a community order with 200 hours unpaid work which was uplifted from 150 hours to reflect the hate crime element.

On 31 July 2024, the 29-year-old defendant from Stoke-on-Trent, racially abused and assaulted a member of door staff at a public house. He was subsequently charged with a racially aggravated assault by beating offence. At North Staffordshire Justice Centre on 6 March 2025, the defendant pleaded guilty to the offence and received a 12-week custodial sentence, which was increased from eight weeks to reflect the hate crime element.

On 16 July 2024, the 28-year-old defendant from Solihull, was being treated by paramedics when she became racially abusive and proceeded to cause criminal damage to an ambulance while continuously making racially aggravated comments. The defendant was charged with a racially aggravated criminal damage offence, and when she appeared before Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on 29 March 2025, she pleaded guilty to that offence. She received a 24-month community order which was increased from 18 months to reflect the hate crime element. She was also ordered to pay £273.61 compensation for the damage caused.

On 19 September 2023, the 27-year-old defendant from Birmingham who was travelling on an Avanti train, racially abused a member of staff and spat at police officers. On 9 September 2024, the defendant pleaded guilty to racially aggravated Intentional harassment, racially aggravated assault and assault on an emergency worker at Birmingham Crown Court. On 24 February 2025, he was sentenced to 12-month community order.

Between the 16 and 19 June 2022, the 49-year-old defendant from Dudley pursued a campaign of harassment against his ex-partner, which included, repeatedly calling her, attending her sister’s address, attending her address, sending her racially derogatory messages and leaving racially derogatory voicemails, some of which were threatening in nature. On the 24 September 2024 at Wolverhampton Crown Court, despite previously pleading not guilty, the defendant pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment. On  7 February 2025, he appeared back before Wolverhampton Crown Court where he was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment, which was increased from 11 months for the racial aggravation.

On 18 February 2023, the 26-year-old defendant from Telford was asked to refrain from blocking the road. As a result of this, he racially abused a restaurant owner and caused damage to his vehicle. His case was listed for trial at Stoke Crown Court on  15 May 2024 where he pleaded guilty to a racially aggravated public order act offence and criminal damage. On  5 March 2025, he appeared back before Stoke Crown Court where he was sentenced to a 18-month community order with 120 hours unpaid work, which was increased from 100 hours to reflect the hate crime element. He was also ordered to pay compensation of £1181 to the complainant.

On 13 January 2024, the 56-year-old defendant from Kent, was present at a protest in London when he approached the complainant and his wife and was racially abusive towards them. He pleaded not guilty to the racially aggravated public order act offence with which he has been charged and was subsequently convicted after trial of this offence. On 25 April 2025, he was sentenced at Westminster Magistrates’ Court to a 12-month community order with an unpaid work requirement, which was uplifted from 120 hours to 160 hours to reflect the hate crime element and was ordered to pay £200 compensation to the complainant.

On 23 November 2024, the 56-year-old defendant from London, was arrested on relation to another matter when he became racially abusive towards the arresting police officer. He was charged with one racially aggravated public order act offence. He pleaded guilty to this offence at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on 30 April 2025 and received an immediate custodial sentence of six weeks which was uplifted from a community order to reflect the hate crime element.

On 4 March 2025, the 35-year-old defendant from Walsall, was racially abusive towards a member of store security and threatened him with a glass bottle. The defendant then assaulted the complainant and was charged with a racially aggravated assault by beating offence. The defendant pleaded guilty to this offence at Cannock Magistrates’ Court on 30 April 2025 and received an immediate custodial sentence of 9 weeks, which was uplifted from six weeks to reflect the hate crime element. He was also ordered to pay £100 compensation to the complainant.

On 25 January 2025, the 56-year-old defendant from Telford, was involved in a neighbour dispute where he racially abused his neighbour. He was charged with a racially aggravated public order act offence and entered a guilty plea at the first hearing. On 25 April 2025, the defendant was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 30 days rehabilitation requirement days where were increased from 20 days to reflect the hate crime element.