Thug jailed for racist remarks in Newcastle

Roaming the streets and hurling vile abuse, he thought he was untouchable. But today racist thug Paul Grainger is in prison after his hate-fuelled campaign finally caught up with him.

Grainger was caught on camera trying to kick in the door of a mosque in Newcastle’s West End as he brandished a Union flag and St George’s Cross. With his pet bulldog in tow, he hurled abuse at the 400 Muslims inside, who were praying on the holiest night of the Islamic calendar.

The jobless 40-year-old was let off with a fine for that offence but Newcastle Magistrates’ Court heard details of two fresh tirades.

On the first occasion, he followed a black man, walking with his wife. Melinda Blackburn, prosecuting, said: “He was saying, ‘Go back to your own country. Newcastle is for whites’. He than spat at the injured party. Many members of the public were present. The victim arrived at the bus stop by Eldon Square and an unknown female stepped in to try and stop him but it was unsuccessful. Moments later, officers attended and were flagged down by a bystander, but even when they arrived, he still continued.”

The court heard Grainger’s racist rant continued while he was being arrested and taken to Pilgrim Street Police Station. He spat in the face of the PC dealing with him.

Grainger was given a community order for the racially-aggravated offence and assaulting a police officer. Despite that, months later he was up to his old tricks again, this time on Blackett Street, also in Newcastle city centre.

He spotted a group of girls standing with some men of African origin. Ms Blackburn said: “He saw the victims and approached them, using racial remarks. They were offended by it as they knew the comments were directed at them and they feared for the safety of their friends.”

Grainger, who now lives in his mother’s house on Eleventh Avenue, Stobhill, Morpeth, was arrested and went on to plead guilty to using threatening words or behaviour, which were racially aggravated.

The court was given details of his racist track record and took into account he committed the fresh offence in breach of a community order. And after hearing details of another offence of criminal damage, in which he hurled a paving slab through an off-licence window, he was jailed for four months.

Lewis Pearson, defending, said: “He fully admits he has racist views. That in itself is not illegal. But he has to hold those views in private.”

His jailing came after his previous offence, which took place at the mosque, in Newcastle’s West End. Then living on Campbell Place, Elswick, he staged his racist rampage during the month of Ramadan. Hundreds had packed the mosque from 8.30pm and planned to pray until 6am the following day. But they were disturbed by a drunken Grainger. When police arrived, they saw him standing with his dog and flags and shouting abuse.

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