A man hurled racist abuse at a supermarket security guard and spat at a customer after being asked to leave when he and his friends caused a nuisance.

A member of Kieron Hale’s group laid down on the escalator and others shouted abuse at customers during the half an hour incident at Tesco Extra in Batley.

At one point the store manager was forced to use the tannoy system to urge all available staff to help remove them from the premises.

Hale, of Thirlmere Road in Dewsbury, was found guilty after a trial of two charges of using threatening behaviour.

The drama at the Bradford Road store kicked off at just after midnight on January 29.

Prosecutor Andy Wills told Kirklees magistrates that security officer Nsengiyumva Fiston was made aware of a group of young males and females being quite loud in the store.

Mr Wills said: “One of the males was lying down on the escalator, Mr Fiston thought this was dangerous and asked him to stop.

“All of the parties were described as causing a nuisance.

Kirklees Magistrates' Court, Huddersfield.
Kirklees Magistrates' Court, Huddersfield.

“They went outside and a member of staff came in and said they were shouting abuse at passers by.”

Members of the group continued to enter and leave the store and Hale squared up to Mr Fiston and told him: “You can’t do anything, you black b******.”

The drunk 20-year-old also swore at a female staff member and spat towards a member of the public who confronted him over his bad language before trying to fight him.

Mr Wills said: “The store manager made a tannoy announcement asking for all available staff to come and assist.

“Members of the public were concerned and one got out of his car to try and intervene.”

Hale eventually fled in a taxi while other members of his party walked off down Bradford Road.

In mitigation Mike Sission-Pell described the security guard as a “large chap, built like an outhouse” and told magistrates that he had not been frightened of his young and very slim client.

Chairman Wayne Perriman told Hale that his behaviour had been “despicable”.

He said: “There’s no way that anyone can condone your behaviour within the confines of a 24-hour supermarket.

“The security guard was trying to do his job and wasn’t there to be abused by someone who can’t handle their drink.”

Hale received a community order with a 26-week curfew and 10 days of rehabilitative activities.

He must pay Mr Fiston £150 compensation as well as £550 prosecution costs.