A JUDGE has scolded a teenager for joining his father and brother in a violent attack on a foreign student who was asked if he was a suicide bomber.
Aaron Peet’s “abhorrent” behaviour was condemned by Judge Christopher Prince who handed the 19-year-old a suspended sentence at Durham Crown Court yesterday.
The defendant last month admitted his part in the Christmas Eve attack outside the Happy Wanderer, in Framwellgate Moor, at a hearing which saw his father Paul Peet and brother Sean Peet handed community orders.
Sentencing him, Judge Christopher Prince said: “You deserve to go to prison but the fact that your father didn’t makes me think it would be unjust.”
Lewis Kerr, prosecuting, said on the evening of the assault Palestinian graduate Ihsan Abualrob and friend Sherif Mohyeldeen were approached by Peet senior in the pub.
The court heard Peet senior used racially and religiously abusive words towards the men but his son Aaron intervened to apologise.
Mr Kerr said the abuse continued despite a request for Peet senior to “desist” and the pair left the premises, wishing the trio a merry Christmas.
The pair were then approached again outside the pub and a pint glass was thrown at them before Peet senior launched a “violent attack” on Mr Abualrob.
He was joined by his sons, all of Frankland Road, Durham, who continued the assault, leaving the victim with bruising and swelling.
The defendant yesterday, who appeared in court via video link, was sentenced in the crown court due to a breach of a suspended sentence order relating to an affray last year and a conditional discharge for affray.
The court heard he had taken part in a restorative justice programme with Mr Mohyeldeen who sought to teach the teenager about diversity to ensure he did not follow in the footsteps of his father.
Mr Mohyeldeen said he had struggled with anxiety as a result of the incident and told the court: “It was important for me because I wanted to close this chapter in my life.”
Liam O’Brien, mitigating, said his client found the opportunity to apologise “valuable” and now understood the impact of his actions.
Judge Prince: “You’ve heard me being addressed by an intelligent, articulate, compassionate man.
“That man just went out for the evening with an intelligent, articulate, compassionate friend to enjoy themselves in the pub.
“They ended up being subject to the most grossly offensive racial, religious, bigoted abuse you can imagine by offensive, bigoted criminals who bring shame on all society with their behaviour and their behaviour has been met full on by compassion.”
Peet, who has a daughter, was sentenced to six months behind bars for breaching a suspended sentence order and three months, to run concurrently, for the assault.
The sentence was suspended for two years.
He was also made subject of a supervision order which includes the requirement to carry out 20 rehabilitation days.
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