Barry Bonner was found guilty of racially aggravated public order offence and fined £120 and told to pay £230 in court costs
A 40-year-old man who shouted ‘this is England’ and other racist slurs at three eastern European men turned up to court in a sleeveless football shirt and was pictured swigging a strong beer mixed with tequila as he left.
Barry Bonner was waiting for a train at Maidstone West station in Kent when he was heard hurling abuse about Polish people.
Bonner refused to leave the platform and beat his chest in front of the victims, telling them to ‘go home’ and that ‘only the English should be here’, as well as calling the men ‘f****** Polish c****’.
When arrested by police, the self-confessed former addict claimed he could not be racist as his brother was black.
Despite initially denying using racial slurs, he later said in police custody: ‘This is England. They come over here and take our jobs. Only the English should be here.’
Station manager Robert Mears, who confronted Bonner, said he could not tolerate his racist outburst and called police. He also said Mr Bonner appeared slightly drunk.
In court, Mr Mears said: ‘He was standing in an aggressive stance, beating his chest with his fists.
As he left court, Bonner was pictured swigging a 5.9 per cent Desperados can – a strong lager mixed with tequila
‘He was shouting and swearing. I know what racism is and I said “I’m not accepting it”. I told him I found it offensive and told him to leave.
‘There were other passengers on the platform as well as the three fellows he was talking to.’
Bonner, from Maidstone, said he told the men to go home because they had sworn at him and that his words had been misunderstood.
In court he claimed he was entitled to his opinion and struggled to find work due to what he blamed on foreign migrants, but later admitted it was due to his lack of qualifications and that he was a former addict.
Mr Mears’ evidence was deemed to be credible and Mr Bonner was found guilty of racially aggravated public order offence and fined £120 and told to pay £230 in court costs.
As he left court, Bonner was pictured swigging a 5.9 per cent Desperados can – a strong lager mixed with tequila.