An abusive passenger who told a Victoria Station worker to “go back to Africa” during a foul-mouthed outburst has been convicted of disorderly behaviour and ordered to pay more than £800.
Chevez Lawgrove, 31, launched into a tirade on Transport for London (TfL) staff as he was attempting to catch a coach on September 2 last year.
Court papers show he called one of the workers a “white c**t”, told another “you are not allowed to talk to me”, and suggested “let’s fight” as the stand-off escalated.
As he was being escorted out of the coach station, Lawgrove shouted out “black power”, Barkingside magistrates court was told.
The resident of Birmingham was charged following a TfL investigation with behaving in a disorderly, indecent or offensive manner on the railway.
Prosecuted through the Single Justice Procedure, Lawgrove was fined £440, and ordered to pay £250 in costs, and a £176 victim surcharge.
Last month, TfL announced tough new action on staff abuse including equipping staff with body-worn video cameras.
“TfL does not tolerate any violence, aggression or threatening behaviour towards staff or customers and always seeks the strongest possible action against offenders”, it said.
TfL worker Harry Denford told the court in a witness statement that he was called out to one of the bays at the central London coach station after Lawgrove had told his colleague “go back to Africa”.
He said Lawgrove saw him approaching and remarked: “Oh look, they have sent a white c**t to deal with me.”
“I said to Mr Lawgrove: ‘You are not allowed to use threatening, abusive, obscene, offensive language on these premises”, said Mr Denford.
“I was also in the company of my colleagues and the station manager, when Mr Lawgrove pointed at each of us in turn and said: ‘You are not allowed to talk to me’ (pointing at myself) ‘You are OK’ (whilst pointing at my black colleagues) ‘I’m not sure about you’ (pointing at my Asian colleague). ‘Not dealing with you’ (pointing at my white colleague).
“I tried to engage with Mr Lawgrove but he was not taking any notice and shouted: ‘Do not touch me, let’s fight.”
“As Mr Lawgrove was being escorted out of the coach station, he shouted at a group of white passengers ‘black power’."
Police were called and Lawgrove eventually handed over his name and address.
He did not enter a plea to the charge after being written to at his home, and he was convicted at a hearing conducted behind closed doors.
