Judge tells racist yob to 'buck ideas up' (From Warrington Guardian)

Judge tells racist yob to 'buck ideas up'

4:27pm Tuesday 22nd April 2008

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AN APPRENTICE electrician who claimed his job prevented him from doing community service for racist behaviour has had his excuse ridiculed by a judge.

Colin Bamber, aged 19, of Hayley Road South, in Burtonwood, said poor public transport on Sundays - his only day off - caused him to miss four sessions of unpaid work.

But a judge accused Bamber of 'trying it on' after hearing how he still managed to get himself to Newton for drinking sessions with his pals.

"I'm all in favour of him getting an apprenticeship, a proper wage and becoming a model citizen," Warrington recorder B Cummings told Bamber's lawyer, Fergal Allen, at Warrington Crown Court on Friday.

"But at the moment I'm getting a very negative view of his attitude.

"Transport wasn't such a problem when going out with mates for a skinful so shouldn't be a problem when he's got to turn up for work on a Sunday.

"He can put his hand in his pocket and get a taxi."

Mr Allen suggested the remainder of his client's original punishment - 73 and a half hours out of 100 of unpaid work - be replaced by a curfew.

But Mr Cummings described the offer as nonsense' adding: "You and I would have no trouble keeping to a curfew because at the end of the working week we are tired!

"This is a try on as far as I'm concerned. I'm unimpressed. He needs to buck his ideas up because he is serving a sentence for a criminal offence."

The court heard that Bamber had breached a 12-month community order imposed by Liverpool Crown Court last November for using racially threatening, abusive or intimidating words or behaviour.

Mr Cummings added a further 20 hours to his sentence and warned he faced jail if he breached it again.

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