A WORCESTER woman will spend Christmas being bars after being jailed for 14 weeks for spitting at and racially abusing a black doorman in Birmingham city centre.
Sharna Walker, 25, was jailed on Monday (December 13) at Birmingham Magistrates Court after she admitted racially abusing the doorman outside the Figure of Eight Wetherspoons on Broad Street.
The court heard how Walker used racist language against him at least 10 times during her hate-filled outburst on May 22 this year.
Walker responded angrily on being asked to leave the popular Birmingham pub at around 10.30pm.
The 25-year-old spat drink in the direction of the doorman, kicked open the exit door causing a glass panel to smash, and then pushed the broken door into his back as he returned inside.
Video recorded by a member of the public showed Walker pointing at the victim and shouting racist abuse in his direction.
At the time of the incident, the footage went viral across social media and triggered a furious reaction on social media in the Second City, in Worcester itself and further afield.
She was charged with racially aggravated common assault, assault, criminal damage and a public order offence.
Walker was ordered to pay the doorman £500 compensation and given a two-year ban from the pub unless Wetherspoons decided to give her early permission to return to the premises.
Chief Insp James Spencer of Birmingham Police, said: “This was a disgraceful incident and people were understandably disgusted at her actions.
“Our city centre police teams have been working hard with local businesses and the community to make the city a safe and enjoyable place to visit.
“Racist behaviour is completely unacceptable. We will robustly investigate crimes of this nature and offenders can expect to be prosecuted.”
Speaking after the hearing, Mike Olley, general manager of Westside BID, which represents businesses and helps to manage security on Birmingham’s so-called ‘golden mile’, welcomed the punishment.
“This was no casual remark, which in itself would have been appalling. This was a sustained verbal and physical attack on a doorman calmly doing his job,” he said.
“This is the correct level of punishment which will hopefully make every person think again before unleashing unwarranted verbal and physical abuse.”
