Nazi salutes and racist insults land painter in jail

Nov 1 2007 by Alex Moore, Gwent Gazette

A PAINTER and decorator who taunted curry house staff with Nazi salutes and racist insults – while on bail for an assault charge – has been jailed for more than two years.

The judge told Christopher Phillips his gestures and language outside the Tara Mahal in Church Street, Ebbw Vale, were “disgraceful and insulting”.

Prosecutor James Evans told Cardiff Crown Court 23-year-old Phillips, of Bethcar Street, Ebbw Vale, was outside the restaurant at 5.20pm on May 21.

He said: “The offence began when the defendant banged on the windows. While staff inside were preparing to open the premises, Phillips was outside saluting at them in a Nazi style.”

Wearing his paint-spattered overalls, Phillips barged into the restaurant, and was driven out by two waiters, one of whom was armed with a stick.

They fought in the road outside and, Mr Evans said, Phillips shouted racist insults at the pair.

On October 2, Phillips pleaded guilty to affray and a racially aggravated public order offence – crimes he committed while on bail for an assault charge dating back to September 2006, when Phillips hit Jonathan Meadows with an iron bar while at his flat.

The court heard Phillips initially acted in self-defence, but later accepted using excessive force, and admitted unlawful wounding.

Andrew Morse, defending Phillips, said his client’s racist language and violent actions did not start until after the fight in the street.

Mr Morse explained Phillips had a grudge against the restaurant because, some months earlier, he was homeless and begged for scraps from the restaurant which was, at the time, under different management.

He was turned away in an aggressive manner and insulted, the court heard.

Sentencing Phillips to a year for unlawful wounding and 14 months for the public order offence and affray, Judge David Morris said: “You went into that restaurant unlawfully, as it was not yet open. The staff felt obligated to use violence towards you to throw you out.

“The language you used in return was disgraceful and insulting.”