Drunk racist threatened Wakefield bus station security guard with baseball bat after he was challenged for not wearing a face mask

Frank Swallow told the security guard he was going to 'smash his brains in' as he made the threat with the weapon at Wakefield bus station on October 9 this year.

Elizabeth Noble, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court that Swallow swore at the victim as he walked through the station at 4.45pm.

The security guard asked Swallow if he was OK and the defendant shouted racist abuse at him and became aggressive.

Ms Noble said the security guard feared the defendant was going to attack him.

The 26-year-old was asked to leave the station and he continued to shout racist comments as he left.

Swallow returned to the station five minutes later holding a baseball bat.

He approached the victim in the security office and pointed the weapon at him.

Swallow also swung the bat against a wall and used it to hit signs within the bus station.

Police were called and officers arrested Swallow five minutes later outside Marsh Way House.

Swallow repeated the racist comments, adding: "White lives matter."

He also verbally abused the police officers, accusing them of being corrupt and threatened to headbutt one of the officers as he was being taken into custody.

Swallow, of Saville Street, Wakefield, pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon in public, racially aggravated harassment and assaulting an emergency worker.

He has previous convictions for racially aggravated harassment and racially aggravated common assault.

The victim provided a statement to the court describing how the incident had made him feel unsafe at work and he had struggled to sleep properly.

Sarah Cunnane, mitigating, said Swallow committed the offence after he had been drinking since 8am that day.

Ms Cunnane said her client lost his temper after another security officer at the station "pulled him up" for not wearing a face mask.

The barrister said Swallow was sorry for what he had done and pleaded guilty to the offences at an early stage.

She added that Swallow suffered from mental health issues and had a troubled childhood growing up in care.

Judge Andrew Stubbs QC said: "It is completely unacceptable to hold those views and spit out the abuse that you did on this occasion.

"However difficult your childhood, it is no excuse."

Swallow was given a 12-month sentence, suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to complete 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days and was made the subject of an electronically-monitored curfew for six months.