Vile Debenhams customer told worker ‘go back to your country, you f*****g Muslim’ and ranted about London Bridge terror attacks
Toneeta Beckford was convicted after launching the tirade abuse at the Debenhams’ store on Oxford Street
A DEBENHAMS customer told an employee to “go back to your country you f*****g Muslim” and ranted about the London Bridge terror attacks in a vile verbal attack.
Toneeta Beckford, 33, launched the tirade of abuse on an employee at the Debenhams’ flagship store on Oxford Street on July 7, 2018.
She went to return a £45 dress when she grabbed the woman, who was writing out a receipt for the exchange, by the wrist.
The employee manged to get free before being told: “Go back to your country you f****g Muslim.”
The victim was wearing a headscarf at the time of the attack.
Giving evidence and Westminster Magistrates' Court, she said: “'I tried to write on the receipt.
“I moved to the other side and she grabs my wrist and pulls me towards her.
“When I gave her the receipt back that was when she said go back to your country you f*****g Muslim.
A RACIAL ASSAULT
“I told her I was born here. She started saying something about the London Bridge attack.
“I was terrified because I have never heard that before.”
Beckford told the court she went too far and she wishes she never went into the shop.
Beckford, of New Hope Road, Smethwick, West Midlands, denied but was convicted of religiously aggravated assault for her offence in Debenhams.
She was sentenced to a 12-month community order with a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement on Monday.
She was also ordered to pay costs of £300, a victim surcharge of £85 and compensation of £50.
Lorraine Lewis, from the CPS, said: “This was a racial assault on a victim who was simply doing her job.
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“Beckford was caught on the shop's CCTV assaulting the victim and her aggressive demeanour was also witnessed by others in the shop that day.
“Hate crime has a corrosive effect on our society and the CPS will not hesitate to prosecute those who commit these crimes.”
In 2010, Beckford was convicted of harassing Crimewatch presenter Rav Wilding after sending dozens of obscene messages and lewd photographs through Facebook and Twitter to the former policeman.
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