White man convicted of racial abuse after making 'honky' jibe at WHITE security guards

A white man has been prosecuted for racially abusing three white security guards.

Jonathan Wicks was taken to court for calling the men 'honky wannabe cops'.

Wicks, 20, has had to attend court at least five times, at an estimated cost to the taxpayer of more than £5,000.

He was on a night out with friends in Reading last September when the incident happened.

He said: 'I was outside the Oracle Shopping Centre and as a joke started pushing and rattling one of the bicycles that was locked up outside, as I'd had a few drinks.

'The security guards told me to move on and that's when I made the comment  -  I didn't think about it, I just said it as a joke.

'It was in jest, but they took it very seriously. They restrained me and called the police.'

Wicks, of Wokingham, Berkshire, admitted one count of using threatening, abusive or insulting words of behaviour which was racially aggravated, and one count of attempted theft of a bicycle.

He said last night: 'I admit I was being a bit cheeky, but I never meant to be offensive or racist at all.

'Honky is a word that a lot of my black friends use to describe a white person, so I suppose that's why I was charged with racial abuse. But it's ridiculous that I was taken to court over it.

Mr Wicks called white security guards at The Oracle shopping centre in Reading, above, 'honky wannabe cops'

'I apologised profusely to the security guards and explained that I was having a laugh. I am white and they are white, so I don't understand how that can make me racist.

'It does seem a complete waste of time and money. Surely there are better things for the police and Crown Prosecution Service to be spending their time on?'

Wicks, who cares for his father Brian  -  who cannot work after breaking his back falling from a roof  -  brother Ben, 16, and sister Billie, 14, said he had pleaded guilty on the advice of his solicitor.

Martin Bryan, defending, told Reading magistrates that that he was being cheeky rather than abusive.

'He is white British,' he added. 'The victims were white British as well. That might make his abuse slightly less offensive on this basis.

'He was not intending to be malicious. He was being more obnoxious.'

In a statement the CPS said: 'It's not a waste of time taking this case to court if he has pleaded guilty.

'There were some serious crimes on the indictment, so we were right to take action.' Wicks was bailed and will be sentenced on July 17.'