An employee dressed up as a black and white minstrel at a work Christmas do in order to humiliate a black colleague, a court has heard.

Brian Davies, 62, was filmed dancing and singing songs at the Coopers Carvery, in Cardiff , while his face was blackened and wearing a straw hat and cane.

During the “performance” Davies sang songs such as Swanee, Mammy, and Old Man River from the controversial 1960s and 1970s television show the Black and White Minstrel Show.

This took place during a Christmas party for staff at the Priory Group on December 20 attended by colleague Loretta Doyley, who felt “upset” and “distressed” after he directed his singing towards her.

She reported the matter to police and Davies was charged with using threatening or abusive words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour, as well as causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress, which he denied.

At Cardiff Magistrates’ Court trial on Wednesday Davies was found guilty of the racially aggravated offence.

No determination was made on the second charge.

(Image: Wales News Service)

Speaking at the trial prosecutor Robert Reid said: “The Black and White Minstrel Show is a television show that provokes some comment in today’s society in various media.

“It’s a show which consisted of white people imitating black singers from the USA singing traditional American music and blacking up their faces.

“In this particular case there was a works outing largely organised by the defendant and in particular he ensured the complainant, who is black, Loretta Doyley, attended the works do after she expressed some reluctance.

“The persistence he displayed indicates he was intending to focus this particular prank on her.”

The court heard he told Ms Doyley he had a "present" for her as he insisted she attend the party.

Mr Reid said during the meal Davies retired from the room and came back dressed up as a character from the Black and White Minstrel Show and was singing and dancing with a white cane.

Footage of the incident was played in court, showing Davies with his face blackened and wearing a boater hat, a white shirt, and swinging around a cane while singing at Ms Doyley.

Brian Davies outside the court:

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Giving evidence to the trial Ms Doyley described how she felt when she saw Davies’ appearance.

The catering manager said: “There was a hand placed on my shoulder and when I looked it was a hand with a black glove.

“I turned and saw it was Brian and he had painted his face black and circled his eyes and mouth white.

“As he did that I just felt really embarrassed because everybody started laughing. I found myself laughing out of shock and embarrassment.

“Everybody was roaring with laughter and I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me.

“He kept going back and forth and putting his hand on my shoulder and he was singing this particular song Mammy which is deemed a racist song.”

Ms Doyley said colleagues were taking photographs and video clips of Mr Davies and some even posed for selfies with him.

Ms Doyley left the venue during the incident and was met outside by colleagues who apologised for laughing but the witness said she felt utterly humiliated and drove home.

She added: “I took myself away and went to bed, I took my shoes off and laid on the bed and I cried myself to sleep.”

When she returned to work the next day Ms Doyley said she felt “distressed” and sat in her car for 50 minutes, praying for the strength to forgive her colleagues. She later reported the matter to her line manager and HR.

When she next saw Davies in work Ms Doyley said the maintenance worker told her: “I thought you were one of the girls but obviously I was wrong.”

The witness said days passed and nothing was done so she reported the matter to police and has been off work since December 28.

Describing how the incident had affected her, she said: “I have been traumatised by the whole thing. It’s devastating what they’ve done to me.

(Image: CPS)

“He was mocking and humiliating me in front of all those people and everybody was laughing. He lured me to that venue, he orchestrated it and planned it.

“That was an offence what [Davies] did and painting your face black and singing that song – it’s something they sing in the Black and White Minstrel Show and it’s a racist show.

“He planned all this and humiliated me in front of everybody in that public place.”

During his cross-examination of Ms Doyley, defence solicitor James Harris showed her more footage of Davies singing taken from another angle. He said: “Do you accept you were laughing during the first two songs?”

Ms Doyley said: “It seems like I was laughing but I was shocked – everybody else was laughing and I didn’t know what to do.”

Mr Harris replied: “Do you expect the court to believe you’re in shock?”

Ms Doyley said: “Everybody acts differently – there are times when I am embarrassed and smile. It was just a reaction.”

When asked if she was taking legal action against the Priory Group, Ms Doyley said: “All I want is for people to be aware this man humiliated me in public and caused me stress. Because of his behaviour this has caused me a lot of suffering.

“People can dress it up how they like – this is a direct racist attack on me.”

Davies also gave evidence to the court and said he and Ms Doyley had a “fantastic relationship” and he considered her a “dear friend”.

When asked by Mr Harris why he decided to dress up Davies said he had previously dressed up as Father Chrismas for a night out and people asked him to dress up again.

He was also asked for his views on the Black and White Minstrel Show. The defendant said: “I just thought it was a show that was on Sunday night that used to be popular.”

Mr Harris said: “Did you believe it was racist?” Davies said: “It never even crossed my mind.”

When asked if he thought he had upset Ms Doyley he said: “I thought she was laughing to start with. I couldn’t see her face, to be honest, by the end of it so I didn’t know she was upset.”

(Image: Wales News Service)

When he was told she was upset Davies said he was “devastated”. He added: “I can’t apologise enough if I upset her, I didn’t mean to do that.”

During cross-examination Mr Reid asked Davies if he knew the Black and White Minstrel Show was considered racist.

The defendant said: “Never. My mother and father used to watch it. It may be strange now but when I was a kid it was just a programme about song and dance.”

When asked if he would dress up as a minstrel today Davies said: “As things are today I don’t know.”

Mr Reid said: “Do you consider the Black and White Minstrel Show to portray a caricature of black people?”

He said: “It’s not right to caricature a black person but as far as I’m concerned a Black and White Minstrel sings and dances.

“It never occurred to me it would upset [Ms Doyley]. I never thought of her as a black person or any different.”

Sentencing Davies, magistrate Ken Horseman said: “We’re persuaded you made a concerted effort to make sure Mrs Doyley attended the event by repeatedly asking her to come by the inducing of cards and presents.

"We have see the video footage of the incident. We noted the number of times Mrs Doyley was singled out by you and you paid her much more attention than any other person.

"We found this behaviour to be abusive and racially aggravated.“You were questioned about your behaviour and found your responses were guarded.

"By way of your guarded responses your earlier actions in ensuring her attendance and the attention you paid to her you are beyond reasonable doubt guilty of the racially aggravated offence.

"The court heard that Davies had lost his job at the Priory Group as a result of the incident and was now claiming universal credit.

He was fined £120, and ordered to pay a £30 victim surcharge and £300 towards court costs.