Telford pensioner sorry for racially abusing call centre worker
A pensioner who racially abused a call centre worker over the phone was told by magistrates that it was "not your finest hour".
Michael Dunn, 62, pleaded guilty to causing racially aggravated alarm and distress to a call handler based in Essex during a conversation about debts he owed on his credit card, the court heard.
He appeared before magistrates in Telford and was given a 12-month conditional discharge. Dunn, of Hartshorne Court, Dawley, pleaded guilty to the charge during his first appearance at court and publicly apologised for his "unpleasant" behaviour.
The call took place on January 12, days after Dunn, who suffers with disabilities and diabetes, returned from hospital where he stayed after suffering an accident.
The court heard how Dunn had lost his temper with the caller, originally of Nigeria, and abused him racially. A victim statement read to the court said: "I am not sleeping well. I feel targeted and stressed and emotionally upset. Every time I step into my place of work I struggle. There is a fear that it will happen again."
Mr Chris Grainger, for Dunn, said his diabetes meant he had a "fluctuating mood", which caused him to say and do things he wouldn't ordinarily do.
The court heard how Dunn was on the phone wanting to pay a credit card bill before he started to use abusive language to the victim.
The police were called and Dunn admitted immediately that the tape recording of the conversation was his voice.
Magistrates told Dunne that he gave the gentleman a "real mouthful" in what was "not his finest hour" and warned him not to speak to anyone in this manner again. He was ordered to pay £150 compensation, £100 court costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
