Punter’s fined £350 costs in racist Brexit rant at Croydon betting shop

BY TOBY PORTER
toby@slpmedia.co.uk

A pensioner told a black betting shop employee “when Brexit comes you will be gone,” after he became impatient when collecting winnings.

John Keogh, pictured right, of Linsey Street, Bermondsey has now been fined £600 for his outburst – and handed a 12-month community order as well as being ordered to pay £350 costs plus £250 compensation to his victim.

Keogh, 74, made the comment to Anneka Davis while waiting for a £200 win to be handed over at Coral in Peckham High Street, on August 30 last year.

Keogh, then swore as he left the shop. Ms Davis was born in this country and took five days off work as a result of his verbal attack.

Staff at the branch recognised Keogh boarding a bus a few days later and reported him to the police. He initially denied being in the betting shop on the day in question.

But he has now admitted one count of racial aggravated public disorder at Croydon Magistrates’ Court and was fined £600.

Ian Johnson, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “With no provocation John Keogh unleashed a torrent of racist abuse on a member of staff at the bookmakers where he was collecting his winnings.

“Thanks to the witness statements and the victim and witnesses identifying him, the CPS was able to secure a conviction.

“Shop workers should be entitled to go about their work without facing racial abuse such as this, and we hope this conviction can bring the victim, as well as her colleagues, some confidence that justice has been served.

“Hate crime has a corrosive effect on our society and the CPS will not hesitate to prosecute those who commit these crimes. Perpetrators may also face sterner sentences imposed by the courts to reflect the nature of the crime.”