Race relations worker abused Pc

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A race relations worker who called a policeman a "white pig" has narrowly escaped prison after admitting racial abuse and refusing a breathalyser.

Muzaffar Hussain Chowdhury, 63, who works for the Bridgend Community Cohesion Group, was sentenced to a 12-month community supervision order.

He was also given a five-year driving ban at Bridgend magistrates court.

The court heard how he had abused Pc Scott Howe of South Wales Police who had asked him to take a breath test.

Magistrates were told that there had been a dispute between Chowdhury and a father and daughter following a car accident near the Swan Inn, Porthcawl on 1 September.

'Aggravating'

When police arrived, the court heard they were met with abusive language.

Despite warning him about his language, Pc Howe was repeatedly racially abused by Chowdhury, the court was told.

Prosecuting solicitor David Roberts said: "There is an aggravating feature to this matter.

"The reason being is that Mr Chowdhury is a race relations officer for Bridgend Community Cohesion Group.

"Clearly he is a spokesman for racial issues in this area," Mr Roberts added.

"Quite frankly the behaviour is disgusting and language like that shouldn't be used."

Regret

But defence, solicitor Ciaran Gould said: "He (Chowdhury) is of Pakistani origin and knows what it is like to be abused.

"He has been beaten up in the past and that is why he finds it hard to accept he said those things.

"This was not an attempt to get out of a drink driving offence as there is no evidence to say that he had been drinking before the incident with the cars occurred.

"He believed because he had been drinking since the accident and had not been in the car, he thought he did not have to provide a sample."

Ms Gould added Chowdhury regretted the incident.

District Judge Anthony Smith said Chowdhury's comments had been disgusting and he had thought about sending him to prison.

Chowdhury, who had been convicted in 1986 for actual bodily harm and assaulting a police officer, also had convictions for drink driving.

He also received a caution in July 2003 for a public order offence.

On top of his driving ban and the community supervision order, Chowdhury must also pay £100 towards prosecution costs and complete a drink-impaired drivers' programme.