A man who shouted threats to stab another man in the street claimed it all began with a misunderstanding because he was singing. Faizal Khan was pulling up in his car when a man passing by with his girlfriend heard Khan shout a comment about his girlfriend’s behind.
Prosecutor Vishal Patel told Leicester Magistrates’ Court on Monday (January 9): “The complainant reported that the defendant had driven into his street and shouted, ‘Nice [backside]’. The defendant has exited his vehicle and started drinking from a bottle of beer and has further shouted, ‘What you looking at’, [followed by a racist slur against white people]. Did you never see a black man wearing a hoodie before?’”
Mr Patel said Khan then walked over to the couple and lunged forwards, prompting the male victim to push him back. Khan walked back to his car, fetched an item, walked back towards the couple and told them: “I love to fight. I’ll stab you up.”
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Khan left the scene and returned a few days later, and the couple, seeing him again, called Leicestershire Police. Officers arrived and arrested Khan, 41, of Bignal Drive, Leicester Forest East.
The police took a statement from the couple about the incident, which happened in Irvine Crescent, Lubbesthorpe, in July last year. The woman told them she had felt so “scared and intimidated” by Khan that she had gone back to stay in her home country for two months.
The incident happened in Irvine Crescent, Lubbesthorpe
(Image: Google)
When he appeared at court, Khan admitted using threatening behaviour with intent to cause fear of violence. The court heard that Khan, a father-of-two who works in finance, had 15 offences on his record.
Zara Cowan, representing Khan, said her client had been “assaulted and abused over the years” and suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Explaining her client’s version of the events, she said: “He had been listening to a song in his vehicle and continued to sing the song and unfortunately the lyrics made reference to the backside of a female. That led to the complainant assuming he was talking about his partner.”
Eve Cooper, chairman of the bench, told Khan: “Offensive language is never okay. Even if you’re singing you need to be aware that offence can be caused.” Khan was fined £123 and ordered to pay a £49 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.