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A mobile phone shop owner in Cliftonville says he has been left afraid to open his business after a customer launched a racist tirade of abuse towards him.

Mark Sweet, 38, of Harold Road, was heard shouting and swearing at the shopkeeper after he claimed he was sold a faulty phone, calling him a Muslim c***.

Sweet pleaded guilty to religiously aggravated harassment at Margate Magistrates’ Court today (June 14), where he was given a curfew and a fine by the judge for his “unpleasant behaviour”.

Julie Farbrace, prosecuting, said: “The incident happened around 10am in the morning on May 30 at the Fonemaster Shop in Northdown Road, Margate.

“Police were called to the store, where the victim stated a male was in his shop swearing and shouting at him, calling him a Muslim c*** and a f******* stinking little c***.

'All I wanted to do was help him with his phone'

“The argument was over a phone sold to the male that appeared to be broken, with the incident lasting about ten to fifteen minutes.”

In a victim personal statement, the shop owner said: “I have lived in England for six years. I love living in this country, and I contribute to society by setting up a local business and giving back to the economy.

“All I wanted to do was help him with his phone, but he made me feel unwelcome.

“The incident has made me afraid to open my business for fear he will return."

Ms Farbrace added that when Sweet was interviewed by the police, he denied being racist.

Mr Sweet’s defence solicitor said though he accepts the abuse, he denies it was racist.

He said: “Mr Sweet said in his police interview he didn’t call him a p*** c***, he said he has friends who are Indian.

“In a 999 call, Mr Sweet is heard in the background shouting, ‘you sold me a broken phone, give me back my money.

“You f******* stupid little c***, wait until I see you on the street.”

The defence said that when Mr Sweet went into the shop, the shopkeeper “just stared at him and made a comment”.

He added: “He accepts this incident, but he said his manner caused him to lose his temper rather than the colour of his skin.”

Sweet was given a £170 fine for the offence, and has been tagged for eight weeks with a curfew between 8pm and 6am.

Sentencing, District Judge Barron said: “This was an unpleasant incident even taking out the racial abuse. You were still aggressively swearing at the owner of the shop. For that reason, this is serious enough for a community penalty.”