A MAN was convicted of racially abusing a hostel worker after he refused to explain his actions.

Three witnesses said that they clearly heard David Amies make offensive remarks to Peter Lindsay, a staff member at St Paul’s Hostel, while has was pointing towards him.

Amies, aged 50, of no fixed abode, denied racially agg-ravated harassment, but gave a no comment interview to police when he was questioned and did not give evidence at his trial.

Worcester Magistrates Co-urt heard from Mr Lindsay who was working at St Paul’s Hostel, Tallow Hill, Worcester, on Friday, January 7.

He said he and two other staff members had just gone to bed at around 12.15am when the doorbell rang.

They found Amies outside and believed him to be heavily intoxicated.

Mr Lindsay described Amies as a drifter and said he was shadow boxing outside St Paul’s Hostel, staggering around, waving his arms about and he was shouting.

He said he thought the staff opened the door, but closed it again when Amies became abusive, although the other witnesses said they thought the metal door, which had a glass panel in the middle, was shut when he began shouting.

When asked what he thought about the words Amies had used, Mr Lindsay said: “It wasn’t nice, but at the same time being as I’m the only ethnic individual that works at St Paul’s Hostel I just let it go over my head now.

“I’m getting used to it, but I don’t think I should have to. It isn’t right, but as a Christian I do believe that people should be given a second chance.”

The court also heard from another staff member, Karen Noke, who said that Amies was fighting with fresh air and wanted directions to the night shelter at the Maggs Day Centre.

She asked him to leave after he made the comment when Mr Lindsay appeared behind her and her colleague and the police were called when Amies continued to behave oddly.

At one point Amies, who was wearing a T-shirt with the slogan Respek 4 da oldies, was warned for his disruptive behaviour after muttering throughout the trial.

Magistrates gave Amies, who appeared in custody in connection with a different matter, a conditional discharge for two years.