Broughton,North Wales - Businessman from Broughton admits racist abuse

Published date: 11 December 2015 | 

Published by: Staff reporter
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A SUCCESSFUL businessman whose recruitment and training company has found work for 140 ex-servicemen has received a suspended jail sentence for racially abusing a takeaway owner on New Year’s Day.

Kevin Jones, of Mold Road, Broughton, changed his plea to guilty on the day a trial was due to start to charges of provocation of violence and common assault, both racially aggravated, and possessing a small amount of amphetamine.

In addition to a six-month sentence, which is suspended for a year, Judge Geraint Walters ordered him at Caernarfon Crown Court yesterday to pay £500 compensation to the man he abused, Hani Hussain of Bella Pizza Takeaway in Bridge Street, Caernarfon. 

He must carry out 240 hours of unpaid work and pay £1,600 costs and a restraining order bans Jones from contacting Mr Hussain or entering the takeaway for five years.

Ffion Tomos, prosecuting, recalled how at 2.20am Jones had mouthed a succession of racial and religious comments at Mr Hussain. Witnesses said he was drunk. 

When Mr Hussain tried to push him out Jones fell to the floor, but continued to make anti-Muslim comments.

A probation officer said Jones, 44, originally from Llandegfan in Anglesey, owned property including The Crown, a pub at Aberffraw, and a flower shop, both of which were rented out. 

He was the director of his recruiting company and had joined the RAF after leaving school. “He is now aware of the dangers of binge drinking and is remorseful,” she added.

Dafydd Roberts, defending, said without question Jones appeared to have been aggrieved by something that night. Many people spoke very highly of him and the work he did for ex-servicemen, he said.

But the judge said such abusive behaviour would not be tolerated by the courts.

“You behaved outrageously towards the occupier of these premises – they’re part of the community here in Caernarfon,” he told Jones. 

“I suspect this night had everything to do with drink or maybe drugs or a combination of the two.”