CPS West Midlands: Successful Hate Crime Cases – January 2026
In January 2026, the CPS West Midlands Magistrates’ and Crown Court units successfully prosecuted various hate crime cases. Below are some of the cases.
A Hampshire man has received a 16-month community order after racially abusing and assaulting railway staff at Southampton Central Station. On 4 August 2024, the 43-year-old defendant tied his two dogs to a pole near the ticket barrier while he smoked a cigarette. When staff noticed the dogs appeared distressed and approached to speak to him, the defendant responded with racially abusive language. Security officers attended the scene, but the defendant continued to be racially abusive, before kicking one of the complainants to stop himself being removed. He pleaded guilty to two counts of racially aggravated assault by beating, and racially aggravated intentional harassment. On 5 January 2026, he was sentenced at court to a 16-month community order, which was uplifted to reflect the racial aggravation.
A Birmingham man has received an 18-month community order after committing a series of assaults and racially aggravated harassment between 2 and 4 June 2024 against emergency workers. On 2 June 2024, police officers attended a Stoke-on-Trent hospital to reports that the 27-year-old defendant was being racially abusive towards hospital staff, security personnel and a hospital liaison officer, causing staff to fear immediate violence and requiring intervention to protect patients and colleagues. His behaviour continued during his stay over the next two days, where he assaulted a paramedic while being treated and continued to display aggressive and racially abusive behaviour towards police officers. Following his arrest, the defendant was also found in possession of Class B drugs. The defendant pleaded guilty to four counts of racially aggravated assault of an emergency worker, racially aggravated intentional harassment and possession of Class B drugs. On 7 January 2026, he was sentenced at court to an 18-month community order, which was uplifted to reflect the racial aggravation.
A Staffordshire man has been sentenced to 16 weeks imprisonment after racially abusing a police officer during an incident in a communal area of a property. On 22 January 2025, the 44-year-old defendant from Staffordshire was arrested following police reports of two men refusing to leave the communal area of a property they had no permission to be occupying. When officers escorted them out, the defendant became aggressive and abusive towards the officers and targeted one officer repeatedly with racist abuse. He was subsequently charged with a racially aggravated public order act offence. The defendant pleaded guilty at Newcastle-Under-Lyme Magistrates’ Court on 23 January 2026 and was sentenced to 16 weeks’ imprisonment, uplifted from 12 weeks to reflect the hate crime element.
A 33-year-old man from Wolverhampton has been fined £660 after being convicted of a racially aggravated public order offence at a local betting shop. On 3 March 2025 police were called to the premises following reports that the defendant, who had previously been banned for his behaviour, had directed racist language towards a staff member. He was arrested at the scene and subsequently charged with a racially aggravated public order act offence. The defendant initially denied the offence and the case proceeded to trial. On 22 January 2026, he was found guilty at Walsall Magistrates’ Court and sentenced to a fine of £660, which was increased from £440 to reflect the hate crime element. In addition, he was ordered to pay £100 compensation to the victim.
A 61-year-old defendant from West Bromwich has been fined and ordered to pay compensation after directing racist abuse at a victim. On 26 March 2025, the defendant was voluntarily interviewed by police following a report that she had deliberately scratched a car. When confronted about the damage, she subjected the victim to racist abuse. She admitted the offences during the interview and was subsequently charged with a racially aggravated public order act offence. The defendant pleaded guilty at the first hearing on 8 January 2026 at Dudley Magistrates’ Court. She was sentenced to a fine of £200, which was uplifted to reflect the hate crime element, and was also ordered to pay £245 compensation.
A 41-year-old man from Birmingham has been fined and ordered to pay compensation after being convicted of a racially aggravated public order offence at a Home Bargains store. On 17 January 2025, the defendant became racially abusive towards the store manager after being confronted for stealing. He pleaded guilty on 5 January at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court and was sentenced to a fine of £180, which was uplifted from £120 to reflect the hate crime element. He was also ordered to pay £120 compensation.