A RACIST from Great Hallingbury who attacked a supermarket security officer will spend Christmas behind bars after being jailed for 21 months.
Serial offender Ben Horton, 22, of Copthall, had gone to Sainsbury’s in Harlow on August 16 to try to steal some wine before the fracas began.
Horton, who pleaded guilty to attempted theft, racially aggravated assault, assaulting police and breaching bail, was spotted by security officer Mohammed Raza, who was then racially abused, punched and spat at.
During a struggle on the ground as Mr Raza tried to calm him down, he then bit him, leaving an inch-long wound on his arm.
After police arrived and tried to get him out of the store, Horton spat blood at them and dug his nails into one officer. When he was later interviewed he denied being a racist.
Ben Hargreaves, mitigating, said Horton was a long-term drug user who had left home aged 15 and had since lived “from place to place without the support of his family”. He added that he also had an alcohol problem.
Sentencing him at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday (Thursday, December 22), Judge Christopher Ball QC said: “This is your 30th court appearance at the age of 22 – you keep coming back time and time and time again.
“You’re 22 – you’ve got to grow up and mature. Do something about that obsession with drink and drugs. Do something about your temper.”
