A RACIALLY abusive thug has been ordered to pay his victims compensation after he hurled slurs at police officers while he was in custody.
Darren Lee, 36, was stopped by a security guard at a Lidl in June after he was caught shoplifting £150 of meat products.
After being followed out of the store, Lee grabbed the security guard’s bodycam and broke the lens before tackling the man to the ground and punching him in the face, breaking his glasses.
Colchester Magistrates’ Court heard how Lee then left the scene but was arrested four days later when police were called to an unrelated incident at an address in Shoebury.
Serena Berry, prosecuting, said Lee tried to escape through a window when he saw the police outside.
She said: “He has been unlawfully at large on recall from prison and arrested.
“While in custody in Southend, he directs racially abusive language towards a number of police officers.”
Ms Berry said Lee was under constant supervision in a police cell and was woken up when another officer entered his cell to start their shift.
They were also subjected to a series of racial slurs before Lee punched the officer several times.
Lee, of no fixed abode, was remanded in custody but refused to attend court on Monday and guilty pleas were taken on his behalf.
He admitted two charges of racially aggravated harassment, and one charge each of criminal damage, theft from a shop, assaulting a constable while on duty, and assault by beating.
Lee’s barrister, Katie O’Connor, said she could not provide any personal mitigation on his behalf because he refused to attend court.
Magistrates ordered Lee to pay compensation including £100 for the criminal damage of the bodycam, £150 for the theft from Lidl, and £75 to each of the officers he racially abused.
Lee was also ordered to pay a further £50 to the custody officer he assaulted, and £250 in compensation to pay for the security guard’s broken glasses.
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