A Portslade woman who racially abused a taxi driver has been sentenced at Brighton Magistrates’ Court.
Suzanne Forster, 41, of Warrior Close, was given a two-year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £200 prosecution costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
The court found the offence to have been racially aggravated and increased the length of the conditional discharge by six months to reflect that.
Forster was arrested after a dispute over the fare at 9pm on Tuesday 18 March in Brighton.
She pleaded guilty to causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress in a way which was racially aggravated.
Sergeant Peter Allan, the Sussex Police hate crime sergeant, said: “I am pleased Forster has been sentenced for the racial abuse she used against the taxi driver on that day.
“And that the court reflected the seriousness of the offence by increasing the length of the conditional discharge.
“This sentence sends out a clear signal that we will take a robust approach to those who target individuals based on their race, disability, gender identity, religion or sexual orientation.
“I hope this case will encourage other victims of hate crime to report such behaviour to the police.”
