A POWYS police officer racially abused in Newtown has described how such behaviour has sadly “become normal” to him.

The Dyfed Powys Police officer concerned is PC Garrett, who was targeted by 21-year-old Morgan Scott Lewis during his arrest in Newtown on July 2 last year, after police had been called out to reports of a man acting disorderly at a block of flats in the town.

Welshpool Magistrates’ Court heard this week how the victim’s colleague, PC Lauren Jones, was left “shocked and disgusted” by Lewis’ verbal attack.

Lewis himself said he felt “embarrassed” and “ashamed” after hearing evidence of the incident, and he has vowed to write PC Garrett a letter of apology.

Lewis, of Lon Gwern, Newtown, said he had no recollection of the incident, but he pleaded guilty to an offence of racially aggravated harassment when he appeared at court on Tuesday, January 9.

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Prosecutor Suzanne Cartwright said: “The defendant was searched and placed in the back of a police van, becoming verbally aggressive.

“PC Garrett was sat in the van with the defendant on the way to the station. PC Lauren Jones was with him.

“He made threats to both of them, then he was heard to say ‘And you, you little black ****’. He was further arrested for a racially aggravated offence.

“PC Jones said she was shocked and disgusted by what she’d heard.”

In a powerful victim impact statement provided by PC Garrett, read out by Ms Cartwright, he said: “He (Lewis) blatantly used race and colour to attack my identity.

“He made no apology. He looked past my uniform and focused on a characteristic I have no control over. I am saddened and disappointed that this has become a norm.

“I live and work in a place where I am a minority. When targeted like this the isolation I feel is intensified.”

Acting for Lewis, Rob Hanratty, said his client felt “disgusted” by his behaviour.

“This was a comment made by a young man with ADHD,” said Mr Hanratty.

“He has no recollection of it. Had he been given time he would have apologised.

“This is an officer who is said to be very polite with the people he deals with, which makes him an exception. The defendant is embarrassed by it (the incident).

“He has perception issues, as well as ADHD, which makes him impulsive, but he takes responsibility for it.”

He said Lewis had never been in trouble before. “They are only words, as hurtful as they are, but it is sad officers from ethnic minorities have to put up with this sort of insult,” added Mr Hanratty.

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Magistrates ordered a pre-sentence report and probation officer Julian Davies said: “Mr Lewis had been out drinking, he’d consumed a lot, he was drunk and unable to recall what happened.

“When he found out, he felt ashamed. He doesn’t know why he said it, he has lots of multicultural friends."

Magistrates handed Lewis a 12-month community order. As part of this he will wear a tag and have to undergo 120 days of alcohol abstinence monitoring – they uplifted this from 60 days due to the nature of the offence.

The community order will include completing 15 rehabilitation activity days. Lewis must also pay a £114 surcharge and £85 costs.