White on white racial slur beyond the pale

Wednesday, July 2, 2008 A white man was hauled before the courts for racially abusing three security guards – who were white. Jonathan Wicks called the men 'honky wannabe cops' when they saw him trying to steal a bicycle from outside a shopping centre. The 20-year-old said he found the whole incident 'a bit of a laugh' – but was charged by police. Defending Wicks, Martin Bryan said his client was being cheeky rather than abusive when he lashed out at the guards at The Oracle, in Reading, last September. Mr Bryan said: 'Mr Wicks is white British. The victims were white British as well. That might make his abuse slightly less offensive on this basis. 'He seemed to perceive it as a bit of a laugh and a little bit silly. 'He was not intending to be malicious. He was being more obnoxious.' At an earlier hearing, Mr Bryan said his... [read full story]