Drunk's Ramadan abuse of police officer ends in court

A racist who unleashed an offensive Ramadan rant repeatedly insulted a police officer and caused upset to local residents who heard it.
Burnley Magistrates Court.Burnley Magistrates Court.
Burnley Magistrates Court.

Drunken Ryan Wells Gordon (25) hurled a torrent of abuse at the officer as he resisted arrest after causing trouble at a house in Burnley.

The town’s magistrates heard how the officer, who has been in the police for nine years, had dealt with similar incidents but said he had never had anybody continually call him such names.

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Gordon, who has a previous conviction for a racial offence from 2012, admitted racially aggravated harassment/ alarm/ distress in the town on June 10th. The defendant, care of Godley Street, Burnley, was given an 18 month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £50 compensation and a £20 victim surcharge.

Prosecutor Mrs Alex Mann said at 10-45pm, police were asked to attend Forrest Street after being flagged down by a man naked from the waist up, who said there was a disturbance at the address.

Officers went to the house and people inside described the defendant as agitated. Gordon, who was drunk, was asked to calm down, but continued to rant. The police bodycam was turned on to film to defendant’s behaviour and officers were still trying to calm him down.

Mrs Mann said handcuffs were applied and the defendant started resisting, saying “Go on hurt me,” and “ harder, harder “ presumably trying to be funny. The victim joined a colleague to get control of the defendant and walk him to the police car.

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The prosecutor told the court: “His behaviour and language was directed mainly at the police officer. Several people in the street were of Pakistani heritage. It’s Ramadan and it was around the time of breaking fast.” Gordon then repeatedly abused the officer and several local people in the street were clearly distressed and made complaints about it.

Mrs Mann said the defendant had previous convictions for public order offences, including a similar conviction from 2012.

Jasmine Basnyet, in mitigation, said Gordon deeply regretted his actions. He had been out of trouble for quite some time.

Before the incident, he had stayed off the drink for more than two months. She said: “He had a few drinks. He accepts his tolerance was lower. The alcohol had a detrimental effect on how he was thinking, what he was doing, but he doesn’t seek to use that as an excuse. He has woken up since this incident and sought help. He appreciates he shouldn’t be drinking at all, because he doesn’t become a particularly nice person.”

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Miss Basnyet said Gordon spent 20 hours in the cells. He felt ashamed of his actions. She added: “He says he doesn’t know why he said what he said or why he acted like he acted. He can only put it down to his reduced tolerance due to his drinking on that day.”

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