Seems a bit of an overreaction from the perp here, particularly given his age and that he doesn't seem to have much of a history, or at least history since he was of an age when this kind of thing would have maybe been more predictable
(It doesn't actually say he was drunk at the time, but the context and 'alcohol monitoring tag' suggest he was...)
Note that the image is credited to 'social media', so presumably from his own Facebook page, or whatever, as opposed to outside court...
Racist launches violent attack on taxi driver during journey home
https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/ne ... rney-home/
Image: Social media/Warrington Guardian
A VIOLENT racist told a taxi driver 'you have come here to kill people', before punching him in the back of the head and sticking his fingers down his throat.
Brian Clare, of Francis Close, Widnes, had been picked up by the taxi driver from the Horse and Jockey Pub in Widnes on October 14 last year, a court heard.
He appeared before Warrington Magistrates Court on Tuesday for sentencing after pleading guilty to one offence of racially aggravated assault.
Prosecuting, Mark Baker said Clare, who was being driven back to his home address, asked the taxi driver where he was from, to which the driver replied, Palestine.
The 62-year-old then hurled racist abuse at the innocent driver, telling him to 'go back to your own country'.
He then said, 'you have come here to make money and kill people'.
"The defendant refused to get out of the taxi and the complainant called the police," Mr Baker said.
Clare then became violent, punching the victim to the back of the head before 'putting his fingers inside his mouth' and 'digging his nails into his ears so they bled'.
He also headbutted the victim in the nose after exiting the vehicle.
The police arrived at Clare's address and arrested him, meanwhile he was still being verbally abusive to the complainant, the court heard.
Defending, Mark Lever said his client had previous convictions dating back to 1982 and 1997.
"The one comment that everybody made was why, why has this happened?
"There are things in the report about views about Hamas. He could not recall a great deal about what happened.
"It should be taken as only an incident for this offence. It’s not a view that he takes on a regular basis."
Mr Lever said the incident was 'extremely serious' and that Clare is 'extremely remorseful'.
Concluding, Russell Malley, chair of the bench, said: "We have listened very carefully.
"We believe that this has passed the custody threshold, however you will not be going to prison today.
"We do believe there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation."
Mr Malley handed Clare an 18-week custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months.
He was ordered to complete 15 Rehabilitation Requirement Days, as well as go on an alcohol monitoring tag for 90 days.
Compensation was granted to the victim of £400.