Former X-Factor star Rachel Hylton received a suspended prison sentence yesterday for screaming at an Iceland supermarket worker: “You f***ing black man. Go back to Africa.”
The 38 year-old singer, who made the Series 5 final, claimed the colour of her skin meant she was innocent of a crime, telling police: “How can I be racist? I’m black myself.”
Hylton, now living in a Croydon B&B was caught stealing £26 worth of food from the store and also grabbed the man’s neck and pressed her finger into the face of a female staff member.
“These were racial words. It is not acceptable is it?” magistrate Terry Carpenter told her. “You can’t abuse anyone racially.
“We have heard you say you can’t be racist because you are black, but it is possible to be racist to someone of the same colour.”
Hylton, of Japstow Hotel, Campbell Road pleaded guilty to stealing food items from the local Surrey Street store on February 16, last year.
She also pleaded guilty to assaulting Peter Njoku; using racially aggravated threatening behaviour towards him and assaulting Abigail Kelly.
Prosecutor Nahiedh Khan told Croydon Magistrates Court on Friday it was 2.50pm when Mr. Njoku spotted Hylton placing items into her shopping trolley and walk past the check-out tills.
“He approached her and asked to see inside the trolley, but she refused, claiming the contents had been purchased at another store.
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“The trolley was opened and the food items found inside and then the defendant started shouting and arguing with the sales assistant and security guard.”
The court heard Hylton shouted: ‘He’s a f***ing African. You f***ing black man. Go back to Africa.”
The prosecutor explained: “She was arguing and pushed Mr. Njoku and threw two shopping baskets at him and shouted abuse at other members of staff.
“She grabbed hold of Mr. Njoku’s neck and demanded the return of her bag, saying her mobile phone was inside.
“She threatened a female member of staff, shouting in her face and poked her aggressively in the face with her finger, saying she would come back to beat her up.”
Hylton left, but when she returned hours later to apologise and retrieve her bag she was arrested.
She had taken chicken, strawberry cheesecake, ice cream, lamb chops and other food items.
Her lawyer Shelly Burroughs told the court: “She has struggled with substance abuse issues for some time and has voluntarily sought treatment after this incident.”
Hylton has attended sessions with Croydon’s Turning Point - a drug and alcohol recovery service. “She is hoping to go into residential treatment.
“She is stable and has moved accommodation because where she was, was unhealthy and she has sought to live a drug-free life.
“She is not impressed by her behaviour that day and is remorseful. It was very unpleasant and she has seen herself on CCTV.”
Hylton was sentenced to twelve weeks imprisonment, suspended for twelve months, ordered to pay £50 compensation to each victim, plus £85 costs.
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