Two men jailed for abusing Muslim manager at Blackburn hostel

The Lancashire Telegraph reports on the sentencing of two men who racially abused the manager of a Blackburn hostel when he reprimanded them over their drunken behaviour and suggested they get some fresh air. 

James Rothwell, 27,  and Daniel Leah, 25, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated threatening behaviour towards Chaudry Hussain when they appeared before Blackburn magistrates’ court this week.

The court heard Rothwell and Leah were residents of the Islington Motel in Great Bolton Street where Mr Hussain worked as a manager.

On the day of the incident, Mr Hussain was in his office and observed the two men on the internal CCTV system “running down a corridor before kicking and banging on a door.”

The court heard Mr Hussain assumed the men to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs and suggested they go outside and get some fresh air. But Rothwell accused Mr Hussain of mistreatment “I am a Scouser,” and both he and Leah followed Mr Hussain and shouted racist abuse at him.

The court was told Mr Hussain was “so concerned for his personal safety he rang 999.”

Rothwell’s solicitor, mitigating for his client, said Rothwell did not engage in “actual violence” and that while the racist abuse directed at Mr Hussain was “inappropriate” it was “only words”.

Leah’s solicitor explained to the court that his client was not happy with the food that was supplied at the hostel and this contributed to tension which resulted in the argument that ensued on the day of the incident.

Blackburn magistrates court sentenced both men to 10 weeks in jail and ordered them to pay a £115 victim surcharge on release.