Drunk abused storekeeper

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), Oct 23, 2007

AN ALCHOLIC faces prison for racially abusing a Tyneside shopkeeper.

Drunken Christopher Newton tried to buy booze from the Wellworth Food Store in Carlisle Street, Felling, Gateshead, for a youth.

The shopkeeper, who'd heard the youth outside ask Newton to do this, refused.

This triggered a five-minute tirade of abuse from 32-year-old Newton which left the shopkeeper "deeply upset".

Prosecutor Jim Hope told Gateshead magistrates that shortly before 8pm on August 25 the shopkeeper heard Newton talking to an unknown youth. The shopkeeper told Newton he wouldn't serve him.

Newton, he said, became aggressive, hurled racial abuse and threatened to smash up shop displays.

Newton was identified from CCTV footage and arrested the next day. Magistrates adjourned the case for pre-sentence reports and warned Newton that he risks going to prison.