Mum told takeaway owner: 'Go back to your own country'
A MOTHER who racially abused a takeaway owner she owed money to has been spared a prison sentence.
Dawn Howarth, aged 48, was racially abusive to Mehmet Celik, the owner of Turkish Delight, Goldenhill, in October 2010.
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REMORSE: Dawn Howarth outside court.
Prosecutor Neil Ahuja yesterday told Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court Mr Celik opened the business in November 2009, but began experiencing problems including damage to his windows from March 2010.
The court heard one of the men accused of causing the damage was Howarth's former partner.
On October 12, 2010 Mr Celik went to Howarth's home as he was owed money for food supplied to her.
Mr Ahuja said: "He received some cheques which bounced. She was on the telephone and said she would come to the shop in five minutes.
"She telephoned the shop. He recognised her voice on the phone and she confirmed her details in the call. She was racially abusive to him.
"She said 'Forget the cheques, forget the money, we are British. If you want to do business go back to your own country'."
Howarth also told Mr Celik to drop the case against her boyfriend. The police were contacted and they went to Howarth's home and arrested her. She said her phone was not working for outgoing calls. But the officers checked and found it was.
In her police interviews Howarth denied calling the takeaway.
But the defendant, of Withington Road, Fegg Hayes, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress.
Catherine O'Reilly, mitigating, said Howarth was embarrassed and regretful.
In her pre-sentence report Howarth said it was a "moment of madness".
Miss O'Reilly said: "She does not consider herself a racist and is at a loss as why she behaved in this manner. It was perhaps fuelled by alcohol, mixed with medication, and an element of encouragement by others."
Miss O'Reilly added that Howarth has two dependant children and is unlikely to appear at court again.
Judge Robert Trevor-Jones sentenced Howarth to a 12-month community order with 12 months' supervision, 16 sessions at Chepstow House in Hanley, which aims to help women get their lives back on track, and 140 hours' unpaid work.
She must also pay Mr Celik £41.70 compensation.
Judge Trevor-Jones told Howarth: "The threats were effectively made over the telephone, but were no less worrying for that.
"The racist abuse and language would have been deeply distressing to the complainant."
But the judge added: "The racist element is out of character. There is no previous indication you are of that mind.
"It happened 15 months ago, there has been no repetition, it is isolated and you have moved away from the area. You are caring for the two children. I am able to avoid custody."
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by strandedhere
Saturday, February 11 2012, 8:04PM
“Oh.Good grief.I typed in the opposite of heterogeneity and the spellcheck thought I was swearing,and made it look far worse!”
by strandedhere
Saturday, February 11 2012, 8:01PM
“I'm not sure that the "you're White so you can never be in a minority,so you can never experience racism" idea holds water.
Though White,you may well be in an ethnic minority in some areas,some streets,some situations.Surely that counts,rather than averaging out the White presence throughout the country,as though Britain were a ****geneous whole?”
by Backdoored
Saturday, February 11 2012, 7:21PM
“quote: '....-'He then went on to explain that it's not possible for the majority in the country to be discriminated against and that if white people do experience such behaviour they should accept that it's caused by mistrust; mistrust which the white person needs to work to overcome so that they will be accepted. by Dr doo;
It is that concept, that 'social engineering' that is fundamentally racist itself -and at the heart of the problem. It means, you are a racist mere because you are in a majority. Even when you are asleep.
People are made to feel guilty just because they are told by an 'authoritative figure' that they should always consider that by being white -their 'default position' is racist.
What a loada b*llacks!!”
by DoctorDo
Saturday, February 11 2012, 7:06PM
“If I may I'd like to share a true story.
A member of my family works for Stoke-on-Trent City Council. A few years ago she was required to attend a 'race awareness' course. The course leader was a black man but all of the staff attending were white. The course leader posed a question to the group:
"If I walked into this room and you all ignored me because I'm black, would that be racist behaviour?" The group all agreed, "Yes it would" they said. The course leader agreed with them.
He then posed another question:
"If a white person walked into a room of black people and was ignored because he or she were white, would that be racist?" They all replied, "Yes".
"No, you're all wrong" said the course leader.
He then went on to explain that it's not possible for the majority in the country to be discriminated against and that if white people do experience such behaviour they should accept that it's caused by mistrust; mistrust which the white person needs to work to overcome so that they will be accepted.
My own view is that all racism is wrong as is the singling out of any person because they are different.
Dawn Howarth should have paid her bills on time then this confrontation would never have occurred. And yes, I think she's a racist.”
by Speccy9eyes
Saturday, February 11 2012, 6:57PM
“Toerag.”
by DoctorDo
Saturday, February 11 2012, 6:48PM
“@Fentoner
Urgh!!”
by E_D_Wivens
Saturday, February 11 2012, 5:22PM
“..It's good to see a wave of anti-racism stories hitting the headlines.."
..but then I took an arrow to the knee. Riveting hypothesis, old bean.”
by StPrefontaine
Thursday, February 09 2012, 11:38PM
“What was Howarth buying from Mr Celik - tandoori chicken facepacks? It's good to see a wave of anti-racism stories hitting the headlines, especially footballers and football fans and probably the most frequent offenders - the average man, woman and child.”
by Jobeeone
Monday, February 06 2012, 11:18PM
“Agree with laythevale on most points as am quite tired now of being lectured. And guess who isn't doing the lecturing!! Can we make our own minds up now please? Just because you look down your noses at us doesn't mean we look down ours at each other! Our gene pool produces great singers, dancers, leaders and lets face it. Spice girls!
I also say that she should pay the bill. Whats the prob. Non payment of bill for food. Can't afford to pay. Takeaway food is costly as someone else cooks it for you. Lesson. Don't order food from someone who is always going to be sober when you are always going to be ****ed.”
by Backdoored
Monday, February 06 2012, 10:23PM
“Spot on. Those in power -both locally and nationally -who built their careers around the 'social-engineering' that is built around 'political correction', are now seeing the error of their ways.
People of all creeds and race and cultures -don't need a warped system of justice to get along -One Law For All -and leave the people to get in-volved, not in-ghettos.... nursing their own prejudices.”