Sheffield thief jailed after racially abusing police

Sheffield Magistrates’ Court – sitting at Sheffield Crown Court – heard on April 30 how Dominic Denham, aged 49, of Bramwell Street, Sheffield, had been approached by police in Sheffield because he was wanted for a shop theft.

Susan Fisher, prosecuting, said: “He was wanted and police recognised him and for that reason they approached him and it’s then the defendant has become abusive to officers.”

Miss Fisher added that Denham swore at the officers, racially abused two of them and insulted a third officer by making a homophobic comment.

Denham, who has previous convictions and is subject to a community order, pleaded guilty to two counts of racially aggravated threatening behaviour and one count of using threatening behaviour after the incident on April 28.

He also admitted committing a theft from a Sainsbury’s store in Sheffield from April 23.

Karen Moxon-Smith, defending, said: “He’s truly sorry for his behaviour. This was not like him. He was in drink and I cannot find anything in his record where he has behaved badly or which has been racist.”

She added that Denham had been approached in a park and he had been followed around and he has felt goaded.

District Judge Michael Fanning sentenced Denham to 18 weeks of custody and he was ordered to pay a £128 victim surcharge.

Denham’s current community order was revoked.