Father and sons in court over racist abuse of doorman

The Times and the Lancashire Telegraph report on the trial of a businessman and his two sons who were sentenced over an altercation at a bar in Whalley, Lancashire during which an Asian doorman was verbally abused.

Vernon Charles Yerkess, 43, and his sons, Harrison Yerkess (18) and Benjamin Charles Yerkess (23) appeared before Burnley Crown Court in connection with an incident at Brady’s wine bar on February 21.

The court heard Mr Yerkess and his family had been celebrating his mother in law’s 60^th birthday when they arrived at Brady’s wine bar in Whalley to continue the celebration.

Video footage from the bar played to the court showed Harrison Yerkess enter the bar first as doorman Jabber Khan inspected his ID and allowed him entry. As he passed by, Harrison racially abused Mr Khan calling him a “P*** bastard”.

Mr Khan and his colleague, Thomas Davison, went to the bar to remove Harrison from the venue. As they did so, Benjamin Yerkess protested at his brother’s removal shouting at Mr Khan and Mr Davison: “I don’t know what’s worse, you being a P*** or you defending a P***.”

The court heard Harrison Yerkess punched Mr Khan before the fight spilled out of the wine bar. Footage from outside showed Harrison Yerkess “drag Mr Khan into the road and throw him on his back and Benjamin Yerkess attempt to do the same.”

Mr Davison was “kneed in the face” as he tried to rescue Mr Khan. Harrison then aimed a punch at Mr Davison and missed. Mr Davison retaliated and threw a punch back which knocked Harrison Yerkess unconscious.

Mrs Yerkess was also injured in the incident when she was knocked to the ground.

The Lancashire Telegraph reports Mr Khan did not receive permanent injuries but was treated at Royal Blackburn Hospital. Mr Khan was “abused throughout the disorder”, according to the local paper.

The papers note Vernon Yerkess initially received a fixed penalty notice but was subject of a further police investigation after posting an account of the incident on Facebook.

An earlier report in the Burnley Express noted the defendants were charged with racially aggravated offences: Vernon Yerkess was charged with racially aggravated threatening behaviour, Benjamin and Harrison Yerkess were charged with racially aggravated assault on Mr Khan and racially aggravated threatening behaviour and threatening behaviour. But these charges were ‘left on file’ by the CPS during the trial.

At Burnley crown court, Vernon Yerkess admitted affray. Mrs Yerkess accepted a police caution for her involvement in the incident.

Vernon Yerkess was given a 12 month community sentence and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

Benjamin Yerkess was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison suspended for a year and ordered to complete 60 hours’ unpaid work.

Harrison Yerkess was sentenced to 12 weeks in a young offender institution, suspended for a year, and must complete 60 hours’ unpaid work.