An immature youngster showered two police officers with racist abuse and tried to bite one on the finger – on the day of tragic PC Andrew Harper’s funeral.
The two British Transport Police constables had travelled down from Birmingham to provide cover for Thames Valley Police colleagues, who that morning flanked Carfax ahead of a moving memorial service at Christ Church Cathedral.
David Emiku, 23, who was subject to a community order at the time and en route to an appointment with the probation service, was said to have first traded words with the PCs as they waited for the same train to Bicester at Oxford railway station on the morning of October 14, 2019.
David Emiku, in suit and white shirt, outside Oxford Crown Court
He told the pair there was a lot of ‘bacon about’. The officers told him he was being inappropriate but let him go on his way, prosecutor Josh Happé told Oxford Crown Court on Friday.
The man told the officers once they reached Bicester railway station: “You better not be here when I come back. Look at the size of you. You’re not much. Me, I’m muscular.” Again, they let him go on his way.
By chance, they bumped into him at the station just before 11am. Emiku was aggressive, saying: “I thought I told you pigs not to be here when I got back as I’ll do you in.”
They escorted him out of the station as Emiku began using racist insults, calling the officers ‘ghosts’ and adding: “F*** white people.”
He threatened the men and their families: “You’re going to regret this when I’m burning your children’s house down.”
As he became more aggressive, the officers decided to arrest him. He resisted the attempts to put him in handcuffs. He spat at one of the PCs and tried to bite his finger.
Police flank the High Street in Oxford ahead of Andrew Harper's funeral at Christ Church Cathedral Picture: PA WIRE
Sentencing him to a two year community order, Judge Ian Pringle QC said: “As your counsel has very properly pointed out, you have probably been subject to racism most of your life and it is very sad your resorted to that sort of language and were racist to them. The things you said were quite disgraceful.”
Earlier, the judge described Emiku’s language as ‘unforgivable’.
Mitigating, defence barrister Stephen Bailey said his client had been subjected to racist abuse throughout his life. “He feels terrible that he lost control and used racist language towards others.”
The lawyer said Emiku, who had mental health problems, had been worried the officers were following him. He was already nervous as he was on his way to speak to the probation service.
He was now supported by a charity that helps young men at risk of falling into crime. He was employed and had a supportive mentor.
Emiku, of Hope Way, Oxford, pleaded guilty on the day of his trial to racially aggravated threatening behaviour and assaulting an emergency worker.
He must do 120 hours of unpaid work and up to 20 rehabilitation activity days.
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