A DRUNKEN yob spat at a butcher after demanding a packet of pork scratchings.

Just two days earlier, Sean Macgregor, 44, had failed to turn up at the magistrates’ court to answer a charge of racially aggravated threatening behaviour – calling the court claiming he had coronavirus.

Magistrates imposed an 18-month community order, compensation and a fine on Saturday.

Prosecutor Ben Worthington earlier told the JPs that Macgregor was in Highworth butchers’ shop Andrews Quality Meats on Friday, February 19, and demanded the butcher gave him a packet of pork scratchings.

He told the man: “I’m not f***ing going anywhere, just get me a bag of pork scratchings.”

Mr Worthington said the butcher had decided to give the yob a packet of the meat treats, as he had other customers to serve.

However, Macgregor spat at the man, with the phlegm landing on his shoulder and arm. In a statement summarised to the court, the butcher was said to have felt annoyed as he’d worked throughout the pandemic and done all he could to reduce the risk of the virus being spread.

When he was arrested, the defendant was found to have a bus pass in another’s name.

He admitted failing to let Thames Valley Police know he’d moved out of his mum’s home in Shrivenham after falling out with her at Christmas, spending some weeks at a hostel in London before moving back to the Swindon area. He was convicted of a sexual offence in 2018, the details of which were not given to the justices on Saturday, and as a sex offender is required to register his address with police until 2023.  

Mr Worthington said Macgregor was also arrested for being drunk and disorderly at Swindon railway station on May 19 last year. He was waiting on the platform despite not having bought a ticket and, when challenged by station staff and police officers, called them “f***ing p*****”.

Later that year, on August 11, he was being booked in at the police station custody desk when he racially abused a police officer using vile language.

He had been due to attend court to enter pleas to the racially-aggravated offence last week, but called the court that morning complaining of coronavirus symptoms.

Appearing before magistrates yesterday, Macgregor, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly, racially-aggravated threatening behaviour, theft by finding, assault, disorderly behaviour and failing to comply with the sex offender registration requirements.

Mitigating, Gordon Hotson said: “There is a theme running through all of these offences and that is in relation to each occasion on which Mr Macgregor has come to the attention of the police he has been in drink and that is something which is quite clearly a problem for him.”

He said it had been a number of years since his client had been given a probation order. Punishing Macgregor in the community would allow him to work with the probation service to address his drinking. He was willing to engage with addiction service Turning Point.

Macgregor made it clear he was not a racist. He had no memory of abusing the officer and had apologised.

Magistrates fined him £50, imposed an 18 month community order with 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days and ordered he pay £100 compensation.