Man who called takeaway staff “Al Qaeda” in drunken outburst fined

The Huddersfield Examiner reports on the fine imposed on a man who called takeaway staff “f****** Al Qaeda” and “P****” after a drunken night out.

Michael Birch, 35, walked into the takeaway shop on Market Street in Milnsbridge on 19 September asking for a lift home. The shop staff told Birch they were busy and pointed to a taxi rank around the corner.

Birch became aggressive and started abusing the staff shouting out “You f*****g Al-Qaeda” and “P****”.

When staff called police and Birch went on to abuse an officer calling him a “white b*****d.”

Birch pleaded guilty to two counts of using racially-aggravated threatening behaviour.

His defence team told the court Birch had consumed a large amount of alcohol that evening and had mistaken the takeaway for a taxi firm.

Noting his mixed race heritage, Birch’s lawyer Sonia Kidd told Kirklees magistrates’ court: He’s mixed-race himself, been subject to racism before and accepts what he did was wrong.”

District Judge Michael Fanning fined Birch a total of £400. He was also ordered to pay £85 court costs and £30 victim surcharge.