Man handed community order and curfew for racist abuse at taxi driver

Categories: Latest News
Thursday June 09 2016
News North Wales reports on the trial of a man charged with a racially aggravated public order offence after he abused a taxi driver in Wrexham calling him a “p***”.
Zac Jeffries, 25, appeared before Flintshire Magistrates Court in connection with the incident.
The court heard that the driver was asked to take Jeffries and a fellow passenger from Wrexham to Cefn y Bedd with a £10 fare paid up front. When the driver set off, Jeffries asked him to turn back because he had forgotten something. When the driver later stopped to drop off the second passenger along the journey, the driver refused to continue on the journey because the passenger had been “disrespectful”.
Jeffries and the driver returned to the taxi office and Jeffries could be heard shouting and swearing. A receptionist told the court she heard Jeffries say “I am British,” and “They should take the Great out of Great Britain because we are not great anymore.”
The driver said he heard racist terms used and Jeffries pointing in his direction. Prosecutor Rhian Jackson said that the taxi driver was concerned about doing the job if he was to be subjected to racist abuse.
Jeffries admitted having drunk too much and to losing his temper. He also admitted using the word “p***” but said he did not know that judges deemed the word to be offensive.
District judge Gwyn Jones told Jeffries he had referred to the taxi driver in extremely offensive terms saying “It is not acceptable in a modern, diverse society for anyone to use such comments.”
The local paper notes, Jeffries was placed on a four-week community order to include a tagged curfew for four weeks to ensure he remained indoors between 8pm and 6am. He was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £85 surcharge.
Jeffries, who appeared from custody after he failed to attend an earlier hearing, also admitted a bail office.