Man fined after flags painted and woman abused
FacebookA man has been fined in court after an incident in which St George's crosses were painted on homes and a woman was racially abused.
In a video that was widely shared on social media, a shirtless man could be seen painting above a row of shops off Whitmore Way in Basildon on 22 August.
Alex Jones, 34, of Jazz Lane in the Essex town, admitted causing criminal damage, and of causing racially or religiously aggravated harassment, alarm or distress.
At Chelmsford Magistrates' Court, he was ordered to pay £2,854 in compensation.
He was fined a further £80 at the hearing, which happened on Thursday.
The crosses were painted above a convenience store, a pharmacy and food outlets including an Indian restaurant, a Chinese takeaway and a burger bar.
In the video, a young girl could be seen watching, and racial slurs were heard being shouted as a woman wearing a head scarf walked past with a child.
Essex Police said it received "multiple reports" about the footage.
At the time, Ch Insp Paul Hogben said: "Regardless of anyone's thoughts or views, causing damage by applying paint to people's properties is clearly a criminal offence.
"Aside from that simple fact, some of the language directed towards a member of the public in this incident was disgraceful."
Essex Police said a second man accepted a caution over the incident.
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