Racist Rage at Shell Garage
Mark Cunningham, 35, from Thornton Street, has been sentenced for racially and religiously aggravated abuse and threats of violence at a Linacre Lane Shell garage. He faces jail time and must pay compensation to his victim.
Violent Outburst Over Refused Refund
The drama unfolded around 7pm when Cunningham tried to return tampered goods. The store assistant refused the exchange, sparking Cunningham to lash out. He approached the counter, attempted to assault the staff member, and hurled racist insults. Terrified, the victim fled to a locked staff area until police arrived and arrested Cunningham.
Police Praise Victim’s Bravery
Detective Constable Linda Duignan said, “We share the victim’s satisfaction that Cunningham has been jailed for this disgusting incident. A member of staff was racially abused and threatened while simply doing their job.
“Cunningham has been dealt with swiftly and will hopefully reflect on his actions. We treat all hate crimes seriously and have trained officers ready to take robust action against offenders.
“This was a vicious attack in a public place, and the victim did exactly the right thing by calling the police immediately.”
