A MAN who shouted xenophobic abuse at shoppers the day after the EU referendum has been jailed for 16 months
Christopher McCann shouted abuse near the bus stops in Piccadilly in York at about 3pm on Friday, June 24 - hours after Britain’s decision to leave the EU had been confirmed.
York Crown Court heard McCann admitted assault causing actual bodily harm on a shopper who tried to control him, and was sentenced for the attack rather than for the abuse.
The shopper, Patrick Gallagher, was commended by judge Tom Bayliss QC for his public-spirited actions.
When Mr Gallagher tried to get McCann, of no fixed address, to calm down, said Chloe Fairley, prosecuting, the 45-year-old threatened to kill him, then hit him with a bottle and head-butted him.
Ms Fairley said there were elderly and young people present when McCann, with a bottle in his hand, repeatedly swore about foreigners.
A UK-wide rise in hate crime was reported in the aftermath of the EU referendum.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here