Derbyshire thug with 62 previous convictions sentenced after shouting homophobic slur at police officer
A repeat offender with 62 previous convictions who is ‘well known to courts’ disputed that the phrase was offensive but pleaded guilty.
A Derbyshire repeat offender with 62 previous convictions has been sentenced after shouting homophobic slurs at a police officer.
Macauley Begg, 31, of Greenhill Lane, Riddings, near Alfreton, appeared at Chesterfield Magistrates Court on Thursday, November 5, following an incident, which took place on Friday, February 23.
The court heard that officers stopped a vehicle during patrol.
All occupants of the vehicle, including Begg, who was a passenger in the car, were searched and arrested at the scene.
The court heard the defendant became aggressive and four officers were involved in attempting to detain him.
During the incident Begg targeted one of the officers using a homophobic slur to offend him.
He was charged with using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress to another person.
Begg who is ‘well known to courts’ disputed that the phrase was offensive, but pleaded guilty.
Defence said Begg was struggling with his mental health and was distressed during the vehicle search.
Begg was ordered to pay a £250 fine, a compensation of £50 to his victim and costs of £85.
During sentencing District Judge Taaffe said: “The term you used is homophobic and abusive.
“You have 62 previous offenses and you know what was expected of you and you behaved the way you did.
“That’s why I’m uplifting the fine from band B to band C.”