A Pembrokeshire man who aimed racially aggravated abuse towards an English family visiting Tenby over the summer has been fined in court.
Twenty-six-year-old Lloyd Rhys Thomas, of Waterloo Road, Pembroke Dock, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday, to plead guilty to the charge.
Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told the court that the incident occurred in the centre of Tenby on August 5, when a family who were enjoying time in the locality and walking towards Tudor Square were subjected to abuse by the defendant at around 7.30 pm.
Magistrates heard how Mr. Thomas, a self employed roofer, started staring at the father of the family, before squaring up to him stating ‘what are you looking at?’ before using foul and abusive language to suggest that the family went home and back to England.
The matter was reported to the police, and in interview, Mr. Thomas accepted that he made the abusive remarks, stating that he was wound up and had been drinking when he spoke to the holidaymakers, but denied being a racist, stating that he had been working in New Zealand for the past four years.
Defence solicitor Anthony O’Connell told the court that on this occasion there was no planning and no targeting of this family by the defendant, and it was just a ‘spur of the moment’ incident that escalated.
“Mr. Thomas does not regard himself as having strong racist views, and he acted out of character on this occasion.
“It would have been uncomfortable for this family and they would have felt threatened, but at no time were there any actions of violence aimed towards them.
Magistrates told Mr. Thomas that this was a ‘very unpleasant and unprovoked incident’ that occurred in the middle of a holiday area towards a family out enjoying themselves, before fining him £166 for the offence.
He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a £30 victim surcharge.