Benwell woman out for 40th birthday hurled racist abuse while assaulting doorman
by Rob Kennedy · ChronicleLiveA woman out celebrating her 40th birthday hurled racist abuse at a door supervisor while assaulting him.
Stacey Barras had been at the Fox and Hounds, on Westgate Road, Newcastle, with others on January 13 to celebrate her birthday when trouble flared. Ian Cook, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: "She came to the attention of staff while throwing a child in the air and catching them.
"The victim asked the group to leave and they did at that stage. The defendant and a male returned and the defendant approached the victim and another member of staff.
"The defendant was pushed to the ground by another member of the security team. When she got up she picked up a chair and the victim grabbed it and wrestled it off her. At this point, she punched him in the face.
"The defendant approached him again and he held her at arms length to keep her away. The defendant threw another punch which on the CCTV didn't seem to connect.
"She picked up a chair and threw it at another member of staff then threw the chair at the victim, striking him in the leg, causing pain." The court heard that during the assault, Barras racially abused the victim.
After being arrested, Barras, of Bilbrough Gardens, Benwell, Newcastle, said she was sorry and had had too much to drink while out celebrating her birthday.
The victim, who suffered a cut lip, said his confidence working as a door supervisor was affected by the assault and he was off work for almost two months. He said he felt insulted by the racist comments but that it had happened before and he had moved on.
Barras pleaded guilty to racially aggravated common assault and was sentenced to a 12 month community order with rehabilitation and must pay the victim £200 compensation.
Judge Stephen Earl said: "It was her 40th birthday and things got out of hand."
Rachel Hedworth, defending, said: "She's extremely sorry and horrified by the way she behaved." She added: "There's a significant rodent problem at their address, there are rats literally running through the walls and ceiling and entering the property, terrifying them. It may be probation can help with re-housing."
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