A MAN who launched a racist tirade at a Muslim takeaway owner after binging on cider has been sentenced at court.

Gareth Paul Foulkes, of Saville Court, in Winsford, pleaded guilty to racially or religiously aggravated harassment at Crewe Magistrates Court on Wednesday, November 15, after some of his abuse had been caught on camera.

The court heard that Foulkes, 46, had propped his bike against the window of Chic-o-Land, in High Street, on Saturday, July 8.

After being challenged by a delivery driver, takeaway owner Kamel Mazi went outside to speak to Foulkes, who then argued back.

Debbie Byrne, prosecuting, told the court that Foulkes called Mr Mazi a ‘Muslim b******’ and told him to ‘get back to your own country’.

She said: “The defendant then gets back on his bike and makes some derogatory hand gestures towards the victim.

“At the same time a woman who is unloading her car hears the commotion. She decides to film the defendant being abusive.”

Mrs Byrne told the court that Byrne was filmed shouting further abuse at Mr Mazi, and saying ‘Allah is a paedophile’.

Police were then shown the footage, before launching an appeal to trace Foulkes.

“He says he was made aware of the incident and that the police wanted to speak with him after his niece had seen his photo in the Winsford Guardian,” Mrs Byrne added.

“He went to the station to sort it out. All he could remember of the incident was being outside the restaurant and arguing with somebody outside.

“He could offer no excuse for what he said but he had been up since 9am and had six litres of cider. He had been laid off from work as a bin man and had been watching conspiracy theory documentaries on TV.

“He said he was not a racist and had members of family from mixed backgrounds.”

The court heard that a mutual friend of Foulkes and Mr Mazi went to Chic-o-Land to apologise on the defendant’s behalf, and that Mr Mazi felt ‘having his image in the paper and being seen by everyone in Winsford’ was punishment enough for Foulkes.

Claire Aldridge, defending, told the court that Foulkes was ‘so remorseful’ following his racist outburst.

She said: “He is hanging his head in shame – he does not know what possessed him to behave in this way. He knows there is no excuse for it whatsoever.

“He lives alone, he is not working and he is in receipt of universal credit. He has been suffering from depression in the last year but he now wants to get back into work and do something constructive.”

Foulkes was ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and pay £170 in costs and victim surcharge.