Burglar racially abused driver who saw him break into town nightclub

Richard Hunter-Smith also used a weapon to smash the driver’s windscreen during the incident outside Big Fellas.

Leeds Crown Court heard Hunter-Smith forced open a metal shutter to get into the property, on Beastfair, in the early hours of October 26 this year.

Paul Nicholson, prosecuting, said Hunter-Smith then took one of the tills and a pot washing machine.

Electrical damage worth £5,000 was also caused to the property.

Mr Nicholson said a newspaper courier stopped his van close to the premises as Hunter-Smith was outside with the stolen property.

Hunter-Smith approached the man and said to him: “You better not say owt”.

He then shouted racial abuse at him and accused him of filming the burglary.

The defendant used a piece of metal to smash the windscreen of his van.

He spat in a police officer’s face after he was arrested and taken to a police station.

Hunter-Smith, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty burglary, racially aggravated common assault and criminal damage and assaulting a constable.

Richard Canning, mitigating, said Hunter-Smith had pleaded guilty to the offences at an early stage. He was jailed for 14 months.