A MAN who subjected kebab shop staff to a torrent of racist abuse on New Year's Day has been handed a hefty court bill.
Marcin Rudnik, who gave his address as Chester Road in Flint, appeared at Mold Magistrates Court for sentence on Friday.
The 35-year-old had previously admitted offences of racially aggravated harassment, criminal damage, being drunk and disorderly and obstructing a police officer.
Helen Sidhu, prosecuting, told the court that at around 6pm on January 1 this year, he entered Diana Kebab in Flint.
He purchased a kebab, which was cooked and handed to him along with a plastic fork.
The abuse began when the fork broke, prompting Rudnik to turn to the manager and tell him: "Mother f****** - give me another one," as well as making a racist comment.
He was given another fork, after which he left.
But 15 minutes later, he was back in the shop, swearing and giving abuse to staff.
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Ms Sidhu said the defendant "appeared drunk" and kept lifting his fist up and down aggressively, punching the counter and telling staff: "Come close to me, I want to fight."
When the police arrived, they found Rudnik standing on the counter.
He was so resistant, it took numerous officers to get him down and into handcuffs, as well as leg restraints and three uses of captor spray.
The defendant banged his head on the cell wall in the police vehicle, as well as spitting in the cell.
A probation officer told the court: "Mr Rudnik has been to the kebab shop on numerous previous occasions with no issues.
"On the night of the offence he was extremely intoxicated and only has a very hazy memory of matters.
"He's had lots of time to think and is at a loss as to why he acted in this way.
"He's firm that he doesn't hold any racist attitudes or thoughts, but this is in contrast to the words he used.
"Although he has no convictions in the UK, he was open about the fact he has spent most of the last 12 years in custody in Poland, predominantly for burglary.
"He was last released from custody in February last year and arrived in the UK on April 12."
The officer told the court Rudnik had an expired tourist visa and now has "no right to remain in the UK."
As such, no probation intervention could be offered to him.
Rudnik, defending himself at the hearing, told the court he accepted his behaviour had been appalling and completely unacceptable.
He said: "It is all fuelled by alcohol. When I'm sober, I've never committed any offences in this country.
"In Poland, I was diagnosed as being dependent on alcohol and I underwent therapy.
"Now, I haven't been drinking for a month.
"I'd have liked to apologise to the people at the kebab shop but I wasn't able to because I had bail conditions not to enter the shop."
The court handed down fines of £345 for the racially aggravated harassment and £384 for obstructing the officer.
No separate penalty was imposed for being drunk and disorderly or the criminal damage.
Rudnik must also pay a victim surcharge of 292 and £85 costs.
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