A 20-year-old man has been banned from Devon and ordered to pay £3,000 in compensation after trashing a room and subjecting a letting agent to vile racist abuse. A judge at Exeter Crown Court described Vinnie Mason's behaviour as "disgusting and disgraceful".
He pleaded guilty to a spree of offences, including assaulting his partner by beating, criminal damage, sending threatening messages and a racially aggravated assault. He must do 300 hours of unpaid work as part of a 12-month suspended sentence.
Prosecutor Philippa Harper said Mason and his partner arranged to stay overnight at a property in Torquay in October 2024. In the early hours, Mason, who was drunk, became angry. He called his partner an "Asian dog eater" and "Asian tramp" and dragged her out of bed.
She fled, and Mason started rampaging around the room, smashing the TV, pulling wall lights out, and damaging tables, chairs and the walls. The overall cost was £2,755. When the host of the property spoke to him about the damage he apologised and said he would pay for repairs. But when they met a few days later he changed his tune and said: "Do you understand I'm only 18, where the f*** do you think I'll find this money?" He then called her a "foreign c***". He carried on ranting and pushed her to the shoulder. He punched her arm, but she managed to get out of the way, said the prosecutor. He also tried to knock the phone from her hand.
The victim said in a statement: "It was the most frightened I've ever been."
Mason's bad behaviour continued over the next few months. A number of incidents involved him making threats to stab members of his partner's family. He also caused criminal damage to her father's car. She said in a statement she was scared to leave the house and was afraid of what he might do next.
Zoe Kuyken, defending, said Mason, of Southam in Warwickshire, was immature and "angry at the whole world" at the time. "He had just finished college and was somewhat lost," she said. "He is very sorry."
Judge Stephan Climie said the only issue was whether Mason went straight to prison or whether the sentence would be suspended. He said the new sentencing act introduced in March meant courts must suspend prison sentences of 12 months or less. "Nobody listening to this can be anything other than horrified at your disgusting and disgraceful behaviour," he said. "On the face of it you're a racist and a misogynist," said the judge. "If that conduct continues this won't be the last time you find yourself before the court. Any other further appearance should result in a longer sentence."
Mason must pay the victim of his racist assault £3,000 in compensation and his ex-partner £2,000. The judge praised Mason's ex for showing "courage and dignity". He imposed a restraining order banning Mason from visiting Devon and a six-month evening curfew. He said Mason can travel through Devon but cannot stop here.
Man Banned from Devon for Racist Abuse and Trashing Room