Judge slams sentencing powers in racism case

A judge has criticised the constraints imposed on him during sentencing of a former soldier who admitted making racist remarks about Muslims.

Judge Niclas Parry said it was staggering he could only impose a fine on John Parkin, from Rhyl, who said he wanted to "shoot Muslims in the head" and admitted being a racist.

Judge Parry, who labelled Parkin a racist and a bigot, jailed him for 10 months for breaching an earlier suspended sentence. But he said he could only fine Parkin for charges of religiously aggravated public order offences against Muslims.

The judge added decent members of society disagreed with Parkin's views and looked to the courts to support the views held by the majority.

Addressing Parkin, judge Parry said,

"You typify the ignorance that poisons our society."

But he added,

"I frankly find it quite staggering, and I always have done, that the court's sentencing powers for these matters are limited to a financial penalty."

He also said the public would be surprised, if not dismayed.

Mold Crown Court, sitting in Chester, heard that Parkin was seen drunk near Ellis's pub in Water Street, Rhyl, where there is also a mosque.

The licensee heard him say he had guns and wanted to shoot Muslims in the head while talking about blowing up the mosque.

The pub landlord, who found his remarks to be extremely racist and offensive, called police, who arrived to find Parkin was shouting and remonstrating with security staff.

The court heard he continued to say things like: "Muslims are taking over the country. They need to go back to their own country."

Later, Parkin told police who had arrested him that he was a racist and hated Muslims.

Parkin was bailed but then on Christmas Day he was refused entry into Ellis's bar because he was drunk and again started making racist remarks.

The court was told he said: "Muslims are allowed in but I am not." He was again arrested.

The two offences put Parkin in breach of a 52-week prison sentence, which was suspended for two years in June last year following an attack on his then partner, the court heard.

The court was told that Parkin had served in the Army for five years, which included a tour of Northern Ireland and two of Bosnia.

Andrew Green, defending, said they were unpleasant offences but could only be dealt with by fines.