Man sentenced for ‘smacking’ shopkeeper in face in racist assault

The Blackpool Gazette reports on the sentencing of a man who smacked a shopkeeper in the face because he “looked at him”.

Lee Smith, 26, was on a suspended jail sentence for brandishing knives and swords out of a window when he assaulted Gulamoyhuddin Kaduji, 30, at his Pound Zone shop in Topping Street, Blackpool.

Mr Kaduji, who has been running the store for a year and a half, told the court that he was vigilant around shoppers visiting the shop because of problems in the past with shoplifting.

Mr Kaduji said: “There are problems with shoplifting so I try to keep an eye on people. This guy started shouting at me, shouting abuse, saying he would hit me.

“Eventually he left the store. Then suddenly he ran back in and punched me in the face. It was a shock, I didn’t expect it. I was just protecting my business. My wife was in the shop and she saw everything. She got a picture of him.”

Mrs Kaduji described Smith’s language as “disgusting and awful”.

Smith admitted racially aggravated assault at Preston Crown Court last week.

The court heard that in police interview, Smith claimed he acted in “self-defence”. The court was told Smith felt as though he “were under observation” in the shop.

Judge Simon Newell sentencing Smith said: “It’s a very, very unpleasant incident, not only for Mr Kaduji and his wife but also for her (witness).”

Smith was sentenced to a rehabilitation activity requirement, a curfew, and ordered to pay £150 compensation to Mr Kaduji at £5 per week.

After the trial, Mr Kaduji said this was the first racist incident he had experienced. “You just have to brush it off, get on with it. I have a 
lot of regular customers and they are very good and supportive,” he added.