Beggar racially abused shop staff

A beggar who racially abused a security guard in Peterborough has been jailed.

Andrew Turiccki, 31, was approached by security at Waitrose, in Mayors Walk, West Town, on Wednesday, 11 December, and asked to move away after he started begging outside the shop.

He was racially abusive towards the man and headbutted him, breaking his glasses, before threatening to burn his car.

Turiccki, of no fixed address, was arrested later that day in Westgate, Peterborough city centre, and charged with racially aggravated assault by beating, racially aggravated criminal damage, and threat to damage property.

He appeared at Huntingdon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (12 December) and was jailed for 28 weeks after admitting the offences.

He was also told to pay £50 in compensation to the victim.

PC Blake Booth, who investigated, said: “Turiccki’s actions towards the staff trying to do their job was completely unacceptable, and I would like to thank them for reporting it to us.

“No one should feel intimidated or fearful in the workplace, and I encourage anyone who has experienced this to report it to us so we can work on identifying and arresting those causing the issues.”