A Powys man has been convicted of making anti-English comments towards a probation officer.
Wesley Hardiman, of no fixed abode, admitted a racially aggravated public order offence when he appeared at Welshpool Magistrates' Court last week.
It is an offence under section 5(1) of the Public Order Act 1986 for a person to use threatening or abusive words or behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress thereby. The maximum penalty on summary conviction is a fine at level 3 (currently £1,000).
Helen Tench, prosecuting, told the court that back in June an English probation officer was sent to Newtown Police Station to meet with Hardiman. The meeting was to take place outside owing to coronavirus restrictions.
It was the first time Hardiman had met the probation officer and he was apparently dissatisfied with the outcome of the conversation, referring to her as a bureaucrat. Hardiman clearly doesn't like probation officers, having previously been jailed for harassing and threatening to knock one out.
Hardiman became verbally aggressive to the probation officer, who spoke with a Brummie accent, and told her to "go back" to wherever she came from. She got the distinct impression that Hardiman had taken a dislike to her being English.
Given Hardiman's form, the probation officer was concerned that he might visit her place of work.
In interview Hardiman said he had taken issue with the probation officer having travelled from England to Wales, when he was prevented from leaving Wales due to the restrictions.
Owain Jones, mitigating, said Hardiman was a "frustrated figure".
He said: "He is frustrated with probation, he is frustrated with the legal process and system.
"He was frustrated at the apparent breach of lockdown, at a time when his freedom was severely restricted, others were travelling distances but it doesn't justify what he said."
Magistrates fined Hardiman £250 and made a restraining order preventing him from going within 200 meters of Newtown's probation office for a period of two years.
He was also ordered to pay £85 towards prosecution costs and £34 victim surcharge.
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