Man fined over racist abuse

July 29, 2009

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Hassan Butt

AN Asian man who called police officers in Greater Manchester 'white redneck hooligans' has been found guilty of making racist remarks.

Hassan Butt, 29, of Copthorne Lane, Cheetham Hill, also accused officers of acting 'like the Gestapo' and asked them: "Why are you treating me like a P***?"

Butt, who once admitted having claimed he was a terrorist to make money from the media, was convicted of committing a racially aggravated public order offence by District Judge Diana Baker at Manchester Magistrates Court.

He made the remarks after police arrested his brother, dentist Omer Butt, in a row over parking. Butt turned up at the scene on Parr Lane, Unsworth, at 11.30am on October 21 last year, shortly after his brother was taken away by police.

Pc Christian Allanson overheard Butt say loudly into his mobile phone: "'I'm just here with these white redneck hooligans."'

He told the court Butt also said: "'Where's my brother, you're not the Gestapo'."

Butt also taunted officers by asking if they were BNP members, prosecutor Richard Stone told the one-day trial at Bury Magistrates Court last Thursday.

Butt, defending himself, admitted he used the words Paki and Gestapo and accepted he used the word hooligan, and possibly the word white, but denied calling the police rednecks.

Butt was fined £200 and ordered to pay £100 costs and a victim surcharge of £15.

Judge Baker added: "I take seriously any form of racist abuse and feel the courts must strive to protect people."

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city col, prestwich (29/07/2009 at 17:48)

It is about time that the law saw that racism rears its ugly head within all areas of society and has dealt with it accordingly .. well done Bury magistrates!

Ran Droid, Manchester (29/07/2009 at 18:06)

Whilst it's nice to the see the law being even-handed over racism, this does appear to be a waste of time.

Are there that few criminals in and around Manchester that a few bad words from someone acting an idiot warrants court action?

Your havin a laugh, Tameside (29/07/2009 at 18:12)

I heard that the bobbies where parked on double yellows at the time!

Angie33 , Manchester (29/07/2009 at 18:22)

I feel like saying that myself sometimes and Im white.

Thomas The Tank, Rusholme (29/07/2009 at 18:44)

I'm loathe to let this one pass. This guy was prosecuted for calling the police "white redneck hooligans" And he happens to be an asian OK nothing wrong with that, wether he be whatever creed colour or relegion, the fact is he used a racially charged comment! So to my point on another story thread, here on the M.E.N someone said in one sentence of his comment......and I quote "While that might be the case, the greater problem is how the country is now being overrun by 2nd and 3rd generation parasitical, infantile, all consuming non contributing white trash scum." I point out in particular the "white trash scum" part. Explain to me then how this is permisable in the M.E.N it is just as bad as the racial abuse used by this guy? PUZZELED?

Andanotherthing, Mcr (29/07/2009 at 19:15)

I feel like saying that myself sometimes and Im white.
Angie33 , Manchester

that's ok cos we are white and can spot white trash...trash of any other colour , turn you back and keep quiet.

Harry Roberts , Oldham (29/07/2009 at 19:23)

Ah...see he's from Cheetham Hill. Maybe he should have kept his mouth shut, as there are many from that part of the city who can still remember the treatment of innocent students not too long ago.

salfordrat (29/07/2009 at 20:10)

So, where are all the BNP apologists who are usually on here bleating about how only the 'white working men' of this country are subject to racism laws?

rocketmanu, Ex Old Trafford (29/07/2009 at 20:20)

You don't get taken away just over a row over parking, do you?

How bad was the row?

More to this than we're reading.

Edski Vega, Nottingham (29/07/2009 at 21:30)

It has always been a British tradition to let anybody who does not have white skin to get away with saying whatever they want. Even the time 5 thugs beat a white student up in a racist attack in which they repeatedly made racist remarks was not enough for a VERY VERY rare conviction of this type.

Are times really changing or is there more to this?

Rammylad (29/07/2009 at 23:11)

Well done Bury Magistrates, good to see a level playing field, long may it continue. Abuse and racist abuse is not welcome from / to anybody.

Rasputin II, niatirb drawkcab (29/07/2009 at 23:39)

You're racist, he's racist, I'm racist, she's racist, the dog's racist, the government is racist, the police are racist, the clouds are racist, my shoes are racist, the sun is racist, I'm racist against my own race, football is racist, the news is racist, the racism laws are racist, racist is racist, I know, lets have a race and see if racing is racist.

Does anyone know what we stand for anymore?

RT, UK (29/07/2009 at 23:47)

I believe that the Police should be tougher and above mere words. Particularly when they
are only directed at them and no effort is made to point out their upset.

Are they listening for the words 'black' 'white' prefixes and putting a racist label on it?

Black Flag (30/07/2009 at 08:37)

What an absolute joke.

citycentre, manchester (30/07/2009 at 09:12)

Fined for saying the police are not the Gestapo?

rocketmanu, it is a sad fact that different people will have different experiences at the hands of the authorities, and one determaining factor is race. People tend not to realise as injustices against the white middle class tend to attract more media attention though

Theowolfe (30/07/2009 at 09:35)

And this is the type of free speaking democratic society we wish to impose on Irag, Afghanistan and any other country the US wishes to bully whilst the UK holds its jumper.

Thanak God (sorry, Allah) for freedom of speech.

What a load of thin skinned babies they are recruiting to the Police today.

Theowolfe (30/07/2009 at 10:00)

It seems strange that this verdict could be arrived at based on the precedent of DPP v Orum. Although the relevant section is different, surely the principle is the same.

Appeal.

Billy Brag (30/07/2009 at 10:18)

"What a load of thin skinned babies they are recruiting to the Police today"
Theowolfe
30/07/2009 at 09:35

The above attitude is the problem with this country, the point is not that the police officers were upset or 'harrassed, alarmed and distressed'.
These bobbys were spot on to arrest this bloke for spouting this racist nonsence because if he will direct that at a police officer what would he say to you or I if he were displeased by our actions?
If I saw a police officer being abused or called names by a member of the public and they didn't arrest them then i'd ask
"What a load of thin skinned babies they are recruiting to the Police today"
Well done Bury mags for supporting the positive action of GMP, we must take back the streets and that starts with respect for ALL the emergency services, zero tolerance.

Black Flag (30/07/2009 at 10:41)

Billy Brag: "These bobbys were spot on to arrest this bloke for spouting this racist nonsence because if he will direct that at a police officer what would he say to you or I if he were displeased by our actions?"

I shudder to think what words he might use towards me. He might use really dangerous words and if that isn't stamped out, then it'll just escalate. Eventually children will start going out armed with words, then they'll start attacking each other with words, then they'll start attacking innocent bystanders with words and before we know it, we'll be in the middle of a word crime epidemic.

m69 alty (30/07/2009 at 11:04)

Well done GMP! Looking at some of these comments, the politically correct goody do gooder brigade in this city don't like it when the same rules apply! The police do a fantastic job, under the most ridiculous restrictions, latest being that Heathrow police were told not to wear a union jack badge supporting our soldiers as some muppet complained it was racist!!!!!!!!

Black Flag (30/07/2009 at 11:18)

m69 alty: "Well done GMP! Looking at some of these comments, the politically correct goody do gooder brigade in this city don't like it when the same rules apply!"

As you are the one who wants the law to prosecute people for saying things you dislike, you are the one who is demanding political correctness.

You're in a glass house - put the stones down.

Knowledge Poverty, a dark future (30/07/2009 at 11:23)

Thomas the tank of Rusholme said:

So to my point on another story thread, here on the M.E.N someone said in one sentence of his comment......and I quote "While that might be the case, the greater problem is how the country is now being overrun by 2nd and 3rd generation parasitical, infantile, all consuming non contributing white trash scum." I point out in particular the "white trash scum" part. Explain to me then how this is permisable in the M.E.N it is just as bad as the racial abuse used by this guy? PUZZELED?

That was me.

I'm white, by the way. And i live in Rusholme.

Wanna go for a beer sometime? ;)

Playing The Race Card (30/07/2009 at 11:30)

Rasputin ll, yes, being brainwashed about how to think but it has worked hasn't it.

Thomas The Tank, Rusholme (30/07/2009 at 11:31)

Black Flag,

You make lite of this subject as is your right, but lets not forget now that it is long long since that this pathetic race playing card was set in motion. I think people really started to take umbridge when their children came home and said they were not allowed to say "Baa Baa Black Sheep" anymore because it was considered racist. And then the ball really began to roll! By the way that nursery ryhme is and always has been part of our British heritage, not that it mattered to the PC brigade. So my point? It don't matter who the hell you are in this day in this country that has gone PC crazy no matter what colour what race what religion?. If you spout racial slurs then you deserve to be brought to book about it, can't be seen to show favouritism now can we?

Billy Brag! Spot on but it seems all you do and say on here their will always be people bending it the way they want it? You can't win, but of this I am sure if I stood there in front of some police officers spouting of my venom then i would quite rightly deserve to be done for it.

Shamas (30/07/2009 at 11:38)

He needs to go Germany to read history as to what GESTAPO did to Europe and then back to Jewish Museum on Cheetham Hill Road to see how cruel Gestapo were to peaceful people. He should thank his luck stars he was dealt by GMP and also lives in a very good/Great Country which is called Great Britain, who stood up to Hitler and his gang.

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