Teenager racially abused and assaulted cab driversA CROWBOROUGH teenager has admitted to attacking two taxi drivers in a racist late-night incident.
Matthew Hurworth, of Bridger Way, appeared at Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to two counts of racially aggravated common assault.
The 19-year-old was appearing in court after an incident at 4.30am on May 26 at the taxi rank in Mount Pleasant, in Tunbridge Wells.
Drivers Girishkumar Hirani and Palak Patel were told to "f*** off back to your own country" by Hurworth before he punched them both.
Kumud Singh, prosecuting, said: "Mr Hirani said 'a male and female approached and they asked to be taken to East Peckham'. He told them to go to the first taxi in the row. The defendant then said to the female, 'this f***ing guy is trying to be rude to me'."
After being told several times to go back to his "own country" Mr Hirani raised his mobile phone to his ear but Hurworth punched it into the side of his face. Ms Singh added: "Mr Hirani continued, 'he then immediately punched me again to the jaw and I fell to the ground'."
As the victim lay on the ground, the 19-year-old threw punches at Mr Patel while hurling vile abuse at him.
The court heard Mr Patel still suffers from pain in his ear as a result of the totally unprovoked attack.
The drivers called the police who arrested Hurworth a short distance from the scene of the assault.
Ms Singh said: "He told the police he couldn't remember anything of the assault because he was heavily drunk but he didn't deny any of the racist comments that were made."
Though unrelated, the attack came just four days after the murder of soldier Lee Rigby in Woolwich.
Hurworth has no previous convictions and the court was told this was the first time he had been out clubbing and his actions were very out of character.
Defending, Miss Jackson, admitted the facts of the case were "terrible" but insisted Hurworth was a "very sad case".
She added: "For the last two years the defendant has been treated for depression and anxiety and has had to drop out of his A levels.
"He is currently prescribed a drug which has an adverse reaction with alcohol which can cause him to lose memory and to be aggressive.
"He is not a racist person and never has been."
Magistrates were told, while viewing the CCTV footage of the attack, Hurworth was visibly shocked and disgraced at his behaviour and had written letters to each victim apologising.
The court also heard Hurworth had not told his father about the attack fearing a negative reaction or even being thrown out of the house he lived in with his parents and three brothers.
Hurworth was sentenced to 120 hours of unpaid work and chair of the bench Roy Izatt said: "This is a painful lesson that you can't mix those ingredients (of alcohol and medication).
"You must also pay £75 compensation to Mr Hirani and £50 compensation to Mr Patel."
He was also told to pay £85 for the prosecution's costs and a victim surcharge of £60.
source:
http://www.kentandsussexcourier.co.uk/T ... story.html
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