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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Bradley Stokes & Lucy Skoulding

Woman who hurled racist abuse at Wetherspoons doorman weeps as she's jailed

A drunk woman who hurled a torrent of racial abuse at a Wetherspoons doorman and spat at him has been jailed for 14 weeks.

Sharna Walker, 25, broke down today as she was handed the sentence after shouting n***** and other racist abuse at Tristan Price, 26.

On May 22, she flew into a rage and started screaming at Mr Price when he booted her out of a bar in Birmingham.

Her vile tirade was caught on camera as she pushed the security guard in front of shocked onlookers.

In the video Walker could be seen standing outside on the street in front of the doorman and shouting directly at Mr Price.

She then appears to call loudly over his shoulder before violently pushing him.

Turning to walk away, the video also shows the moment that Walker turns around and spits at Mr Price.

Walker, of Worcester, was outside Wetherspoon's Figure of Eight bar on Birmingham's bustling Broad Street.

Today Walker was jailed after she pleaded guilty to racially aggravated common assault and criminal damage after smashing a pub door.

She was ordered to pay Mr Price, who withdrew his support for the prosecution and did not attend court, £500 in compensation.

Walker was banned from going into the Figure of Eight for two years unless the landlord gives her express permission.

While she was being sentenced, Walker burst into tears and shook her head repeatedly while her friends gasped in shock from the public gallery.

District Judge John Bristow told her: "This was prolonged assault and you used a door against Mr Price's shoulder. The incident has stayed with Mr Price and he has had to seek help.

Mr Price has previously said that the racist abuse affected him more than being threatened with knives or by drunken thugs (BPM Media)

"You shouted 'm******' to Mr Price and other staff - this is an obvious term for disabled people. You deliberately spat at Mr Price this is disgusting.

"You were under the influence of alcohol. You handed yourself in and experienced threats, as well as your mental health diagnoses.

"You pose medium risk to yourself - including suicide. Mr Price has forgiven you, down to his faith, he is Godfearing. I also accept you have kept out of trouble since May.

"The abhorrent language you used based on his racial group. This has no place in the UK. I have no doubt the footage caused serious distress throughout Birmingham.

"You are a risk to the public; the appropriate punishment is immediate custody. This conduct was serious only immediate custody is justified.

"I am sending you to prison to 14 weeks. I have reduced your sentence because of your plea."

Earlier today, Walker arrived at Birmingham Magistrates' Court wearing sunglasses and a black fur hooded coat while walking arm-in-arm with two friends.

The court heard that bouncer Mr Price, 26, was working on the door of the pub when he was alerted to four women being rowdy at around 9.30pm on May 22.

Prosecutor Sarah Woulfe said: "Mr Price went to the group, which included Ms Walker, and asked them to leave but they claimed they had lost a mobile phone.

"Mr Price helped look for the phone but it could not be found. He saw Ms Walker do something out of the corner of his eye.

"He was notified by his manager that Ms Walker had taken a drink from her glass and spat the contents towards Mr Price's back. Hearing this he asked her to leave immediately.

"Ms Walker pushed tables as she exited the venue causing damage. As she got to the door, she smashed the glass and hinges.

"Ms Walker was stood near the door shouting you 'f****** n*****' and stepped towards Mr Price. Mr Price went back inside. Ms Walker slammed the door into him.

"Mr Price came back outside the door and Ms Walker spat at Mr Price landing on his feet and hands. Ms Walker shoved the door and hit Mr Price's shoulder."

Video footage of the incident, which attracted over 2.5 million views, caused outrage at the time after it was posted to social media.

It captured the moment Walker was booted out of the pub and began yelling at Mr Price for her bag.

She is seen storming towards the entrance shouting: "Where the f*** is my bag moron, where is my bag. Get my f****** bag then, get my f****** bag."

While Mr Price remains calm throughout the altercation, Walker appears to push him and calls him more racist names.

She then repeatedly shouts the N word before spitting in full view of fellow revellers as she walks away.

Disgusted onlookers attempted to challenge Walker but she yelled at them: "I don't care, shut the f*** up" before storming off.

In victim impact statement, which was read out in court, Mr Price said: "This incident made me feel very small and worthless and embarrassed.

"I was very uncomfortable at work afterwards and felt like other people witnessing the incident were staring at me. I was so upset, I shared the footage on social media on Instagram."

He had previously said the racist abuse affected him more than being threatened with knives or by drunken thugs.

The court heard Mr Price supports Black Lives Matter movement and shared the footage to "raise awareness that this abuse still happens".

Ms Woulfe revealed that Mr Price had withdrawn his support for the prosecution, saying the video had "achieved more than the courts" adding that he did not want Walker's life to be ruined by her actions.

Judith Kenney, defending, said Walker suffers from agoraphobia - an extreme fear of open or public places - and had drank booze on the night of the incident to give her "Dutch courage".

She said: "It is fair to say she is suspicious of men generally, regardless of colour. The reality is she was not meant to be out drinking.

"It is not ladylike; she couldn't believe she acted in that way. This is behaviour is nothing she's proud of."

The court heard Walker had previously been cautioned in 2014 for being drunk and disorderly and again in 2016 for using threatening words and behaviour.

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