Woman handed suspended sentence calling Muslim cabbie “member of ISIS”

The Express and Echo reports on the outcome of a hate crime trial involving a woman who racially abused a taxi driver calling him “f***ing Paki” and accusing him of being a “member of Isis.”

Laura Casey, 42, stood trial at Exeter Crown Court last week for racially aggravated threatening behaviour in connection with the incident which happened on the night of January 13, 2016.

Casey had been on a night out with her boyfriend when an argument between the pair led to taxi driver, Shahed Miah, feeling the brunt of her anger.

Casey, who was drunk at the time, called Mr Miah a “f***ing Paki” and told him he was a “member of Isis.” She also suggested Mr Miah was part of the terrorist group that was responsible for killing her “people”.

Exeter Crown Court heard that Casey almost caused a car crash when she jerked Mr Miah’s collar causing him to pull the cab over before getting out of the car and calling the police.

Prosecutor Anita Noerr told the court Mr Miah had “not only lost the £15 fare but also a further £60 in lost takings while he was making his statement to the police.”

Casey admitted racially aggravated threatening behaviour.

The court heard the mature business studies student was “ashamed of her behaviour.”

Recorder Anna Midgley, sentencing Casey, told her “It is concerning that you still maintain the victim may have misinterpreted what you said. There is no room for misinterpretation when you call someone a ‘f***ing Paki’.

“This was racism and it is on the rise at the moment. It is particularly important for you to realise you cannot use language like this.”

Casey was jailed for 10 months, suspended for two years. She was also placed under curfew for three months and ordered to pay £200 compensation.