Man in court for yelling racist abuse after 'incident' involving child

A man threatened and abused his ex-wife's Polish neighbour, using racist terms and telling the man to go back to Poland. Lester Hopewell, 48, had been visiting his children at his ex-wife's home in Wolverton Road, West End, Leicester, in June this year when the threatening behaviour occurred.

During the visit, Hopewell's ex-wife told him about an earlier alleged incident involving one of his children and the neighbour, and showed him a video clip. Prosecutor Sukhy Basi told the court: "The defendant was immediately aggressive towards the [victim], shouting and swearing through the window and making comments and threats of a racial nature.

"The complainant, who was at an upstairs window, commented in Polish. The defendant continued to insult the complainant about his inability to speak English."

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Mr Basi said Hopewell, of Moir Close, Sileby, near Loughborough, told the victim: "Come out and fight and I'll smash your face in." Hopewell also told the man: "Why don't you [go] back to Poland."

The victim called Leicestershire Police and Hopewell was arrested, along with his ex-wife and a youth at the scene.

In a victim statement that was read out in court, the victim said: "This incident has drastically affected my life and completely changed it. I feel like a prisoner in my own home." He said people in the street were filming him when he was out of the house and making up false accusations about him.

Hopewell, who had three offences on his record, all for acts of violence, was represented in court by Perminder Bassi. Mr Bassi said Hopewell's ex-wife had reported the victim to the police, but the force had not taken any action. He told the magistrates: "There's always two sides to a story.

"A few weeks prior, the complainant was reported to the police in relation to an incident with [the defendant's] child. The police took no action.

"[Hopewell's] ex-partner was showing [Hopewell] the video she had shown the police. The victim heard them and tweaked the curtains and laughed. At that particular point, [Hopewell] loses it. He's sorry for his behaviour."

Mr Bassi did not go into any further detail about the nature of the alleged incident involving Hopewell's child.

He said the racial abuse was a "one-off" and that there had been no previous incidents between his client and the victim. He said: "It's a one-off situation triggered by some antagonisation and provocation. He still visits [his ex wife] but avoids going anywhere near the complainant's address."

Hopewell, who had pleaded guilty racially-aggravated harassment, was fined £438 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £175 victim surcharge.