Retired London Underground OAP's Toilet Race Insult

A retired London Underground employee - determined to continue using the private staff toilet at his local station - pushed past an objecting female worker, saying: “How did you black people get into this country?”

Pensioner Peter Allen, 75, is now “embarrassed and humbled” by his behaviour, Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court heard.

“You need to keep your temper in check and don’t racially abuse people,” District Judge Michael Oliver told him.

Allen, of Patriot Square, Bethnal Green pleaded guilty to the racially aggravated assault of Sara-Leigh Browne at Mile End Underground Station on February 8.

The court heard Allen routinely enjoyed access to the staff toilet, but was confronted by a member of Transport for London (TfL) staff, who did not know him.

Prosecutor Selma Michli said: “Mr Allen was seen by a female member of TfL staff loitering near the staff toilet and challenged him.

“He flashed a retired TfL identity card and pushed past the member of staff and said: ‘How did you black people get into this country?’

“Mr Allen also has a previous conviction for a racially-aggravated offence in 2019.”

His lawyer John Corcoran told the court: “He was employed for nearly thirty years on the London Underground and was quite cross when a new member of staff denied him access to the staff toilet, which he still enjoys at that station.

“This could be considered as a one-off. He is embarrassed and humbled to be here today and has been very wound up and upset about being here today.”

Allen claims a medical condition necessitated his need to have access to the toilet and his retirement continues to be funded by a £900pm TfL pension and £1,000pm state pension. 

“You deserve a degree of credit for pleading guilty and this was quite a serious offence,” DJ Oliver told him.

“You needed to use the lavatory and you had worked for TfL for a long period of time, but the person who challenged you was just doing their job and should be able to do their job without receiving racial abuse.

“You are seventy-five years-old and stayed out of trouble until 2019.

“It is true you regularly needed to use the toilet for medical reasons, but you are still responsible for this spectacular lapse of judgement.”

Allen was fined £300, with £85 costs and was ordered to pay the victim Ms Browne £200 compensation, plus the court a £120 victim surcharge.