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13:13 19/01/2022
A Brighton man who threatened and racially abused a charity shop worker has been jailed.
Alex Austin, 52, of Grand Parade in Brighton, was arrested after he persistently harassed a woman who worked in Age UK in London Road.
On November 29th at 11.45am, Austin submitted a shopworker to a torrent of racial abuse, loitered around the store and intimidated her by staring through the window.
The victim was able to take a clear picture, which was later used to identify him.
Austin then returned at 1.50pm and continued to racially abuse and threaten the store worker.
On January 7th, Austin was arrested for being in breach of a court order and further arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated harassment.
At Lewes Crown Court on Friday (January 14th), Austin was jailed for 12 weeks and given a 12-month restraining order prohibiting him from entering the London Road store.
Sergeant Barrett, of Brighton and Hove’s Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “This was a hugely upsetting incident that was extremely distressing for Austin’s victim, and I would like to thank her for her strength and determination in supporting this conviction.
“Brighton and Hove has a close-knit business community and I would also like to thank them for their help in bringing this perpetrator to justice.
“Our city prides itself on its diversity and inclusivity and hate speech in any form will absolutely not be tolerated.
“Alex Austin is a committed criminal with over 60 previous convictions and we are pleased to see him brought to justice and behind bars.”