Man who abused staff in pizza shop fined

The Huddersfield Examiner reports on a man sentenced for racially abusing staff at a Domino’s Pizza store in Huddersfield town centre and then smearing excrement on the walls of his cell when imprisoned by officers over his conduct.

Paul Lynch, 47, went into the Domino’s Pizza store on St John’s Road on Saturday 19 November and reached over the counter to try and grab the phone.

When staff workers stopped him, Lynch called them “P**i b******s” and told them to “Go back to where you’ve come from, this is my country”.

Kirklees magistrates court heard Lynch “continued to use racist language, upsetting staff and customers, and police were called.”

When he was placed in custody by officers at Huddersfield police station, Lynch “smeared excrement over his cell.”

The court heard Lynch was moved to another cell but continued “to urinate and defecated over the cell.”

The court was told Huddersfield police station had to close off the cells for “deep cleaning” after the incident.

Lynch pleaded guilty to criminal damage and using racially-aggravated threatening behaviour. He also pleaded guilty to a separate charge of being drunk and disorderly in public on October 14.

Lynch claimed he had gone into the takeaway shop because people were after him and he wanted to call the police. His behaviour in the cell was put down to feeling “he wasn’t being treated fairly.”

Lynch’s mental health problems were also noted in court.

Prosecutor Shamaila Qureshi told the court: “One staff member said he felt bad for other staff and distressed by what was said and that there was no need for it.

“Another said he was shocked, he’d lived for 12 years in England and never come across such abuse. He tried to ignore it but was upset by the words used.”

Magistrates ordered Lynch to pay £80 compensation for the damage caused to the cell at Huddersfield Police Station. He was also fined £80 and told to pay £30 victim surcharge.