Seems to be a longer version now
Telegraph Sport reported in March that
two Brentford footballers had intervened after seeing the incident in Richmond while travelling home from a match against Leeds United.
A court heard that David Wheeler, 63, was left with a black eye when Schade and Janelt defended Israel Ilesanmi, a Nigerian security guard, in the early hours of the morning.
Wheeler, a pharmaceutical van driver who had drunk “about seven” cans of beer, had targeted Ilesanmi because he thought he was a lookout for burglars. He had filmed Ilesanmi, called him a “c---” and said: “You’re not English. Why are you here? What are you looking for?”
As
Schade and Janelt intervened, Wheeler also turned on them. Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court heard that he told the players “f--- off, German f------ pricks”.
At his hearing, the unrepresented Wheeler originally denied using racist language and turned down an opportunity to plead guilty for a shorter sentence.
However, he then reversed his plea following the lunchtime adjournment after it was explained that a 999 call had captured his racist language.
He also claimed he had only used the language “under duress”. As reported by
Central News, deputy district judge Luis Williamson told Wheeler that duress requires a “very high bar” like “having a gun to your head”.
When police arrived on the night, Wheeler claimed to be the victim of an assault and phone theft. He also told police that he did not know Ilesanmi was a security guard and that his memory was “blurry”.
In mitigation, Wheeler said: “I was walking home from a lady friend’s. It’s a 20-minute walk. When I am walking in the dark part of the road on the hill, I can see a guy with a high-vis jacket. He’s on the common in the dark. I thought he was a policeman.
“As I got a bit closer, I turned around and seen it was a security jacket. I said to him ‘Hello, what’s happening mate around here?’ But he didn’t talk to me at all. His chest has gone down like a shy little boy.
“I thought: ‘There’s expensive houses on this road’. I thought: ‘He’s keeping a look out for burglars.’
“I was going home but three guys turned up in a German car. He did not jump out and say ‘Help me’. They have a quick chat with him so I started filming their reg plate.
“It’s all on a video which I have got. The driver of the German car says ‘Are you racist?’ so I just ignore him. Then he said: ‘Do you want your head punched in?’
“He’s moved his car about five yards, put his brakes on really hard. He’s come running more and backed off. I did not know whether he had a knife. He’s called me a ‘d-------’ and got back in the car.
“It did annoy me. I’m still filming him, I’m calling him a w----- and that, but no German you, German what or nothing.
“They come running out the car, punch me to the ground, snatch my phone. This is when that 999 call that I heard from the prosecutor. I was mortified that I actually used some racist language.
“It was heat of the moment. I was punched to the floor. These guys in the car, the Germans, they are athletes, less than half my age. They was all laughing at me. I could not get my phone back. I got some horrible language.”
“The company I work for, I have been with them for 17 years. It’s multi-racial. I got sent education videos of inclusivity.”
Wheeler was fined a month’s wages at £1,699, including £150 compensation to Ilesanmi. Judge Williamson told him: “The circumstances you found yourself in do not justify the language you used. If you feel you were the victim of crime, you can call 999 and you can register your own complaint.
“This was an offence committed in drink, which makes the offending worse. But you have expressed a degree of remorse, not only for what happened but how you appear before the court.”
Particularly in Northampton.........
