A racist retiree has been slapped with a £600 fine ($753) for his racist outburst against a Black woman inside a British betting shop last year.
John Keogh, 74, pleaded guilty Monday to a count of racially aggravated public disorder after telling a Black woman “when Brexit comes, you’ll be gone,” according to HuffPost UK. Keogh appeared at Croydon Magistrates’ Court where he admitted to the August 2018 offense.
A judge sentenced John Keogh, 74, to 12 months of community service, in addition to a £600 fine and a nightly curfew for 10 weeks. (Photo by Victoria Jones/PA Images via Getty Images)
In addition to the fine, the man was given 12 months of community service and ordered to pay restitution to his victim, Anneka Davis.
Keogh blew up on Davis last year after growing impatient with her at the Coral bookmakers shop in South London, where she works. Prosecutors said Keogh was there to claim £200 ($251) in winnings and grew restless while he waited for Davis to hand over the cash.
“He became impatient and when he was given the money, he told her, ‘When Brexit comes you will be gone,’ ” prosecutor Jacqui Hughes said. “[Davis] asked him what he meant by that and asked him to leave.”
In court, Keogh admitted to calling the woman a “f—–g n—-r” as he left the betting shop and clenched his fists when he approached her, causing Davis to “fear for her safety.” Davis, who also appeared in court Monday, said the incident left her unable to work for five days, due to the stress of it all.
“Due to the comments made by the man in question, I questioned whether I was welcome in this country,” she told the court. “Due to the climate and everything going on with Brexit, I felt that I was questioning myself and whether I belonged.
“I was born in this country and have lived here all my life,” Davis added. “I can’t help that I was born Black.”
According to U.K. outlet Metro, Keogh glared at his victim from across the courtroom Monday.
Tariq Al-Mallak, a defense lawyer for Keogh, said there was “no explanation that could justify” his client’s behavior, then stated that Keogh suffers from PTSD after getting into a bad car accident.
Chairman of the bench Douglas Hunter ultimately handed the defendant a community order lasting 12 months and a 10-week nightly curfew. Keogh is also ordered to pay £250 ($314) in compensation to Davis, in addition to £350 ($440) in court costs.
He’s been banned from the Coral shop for a year as well.
“People should be able to go to their place of work without fear of being abused in any way,” said Hunter. “It has had an impact on this young lady far beyond just that incident.”
