'Nice' racist yob who goaded doorman over 'Brexit' before glassing him in face warned he could go to jail

Drunk George Howes, 21, picked a fight with a bouncer while out drinking in Queensway, Bognor Regis, leaving his victim needing stitches and dental treatment following the incident in December 2018.

Portsmouth Crown Court heard how Howes approached the doorman before events erupted as the pub was closing.

Prosecutor Gary Venturi said: ‘Mr Howes had been drinking and then approached the victim and started saying “Brexit” a number of times with his demeanour changing.

‘The doorman responded by saying: “What are you talking about?”’

Howes then menacingly hit back in an expletive-ridden rant: ‘I’m English. You don’t belong in this country.’

As the defendant was being escorted off the premises events spiralled out of control. ‘Mr Howes then struck the victim in the face with the glass after being asked if he was racist,’ said Mr Venturi.

‘The victim was left with a split lip and needed stitches. His tooth needed dental work.’

The court heard the member of security was off work for three days without pay.

In a statement read out to court, the victim said: ‘I’ve lost my trust in people as a result of this and am now more distant.

‘It was a hate crime. I feel angry he was shouting “Brexit” at me. It was hurtful.’

The court was told how Howes’ girlfriend approached the doorman after the glassing to tell him her boyfriend was a ‘nice guy’.

Police arrested Howes, who made full admissions to the offence. ‘The defendant said he attempted to throw a drink (at the victim) but because of the close proximity it hit him in the face,’ Mr Venturi said.

‘Mr Howes said he was sorry and didn’t mean to cause the injury. He said he just got wound up by the security guard.’

Howes, of Fitzalan Road, Arundel, West Sussex, admitted a single charge of racially aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He has one previous conviction for battery.

Recorder Noel Casey told Howes: ‘The effect is you glassed the man in the face with a wine glass and left him needing stitches.

‘Glassings normally lead to immediate prison sentences and racially aggravated incidents are normally longer sentences.’

But rather than sentencing Howes, who had no legal representation, the recorder opted to adjourn the case to allow the defendant to ‘put his best foot forward’ by securing the services of a lawyer.

Howes will now be sentenced on April 3. He was granted unconditional bail.