A man who was filmed being attacked and exposed to a barrage of racial insults has called for harsher punishments for offenders.
Ebehitale Igene was assaulted three times at a north Wales nightclub; footage of the final assault was shared on social media.
Tomos Wilson, 19 years old, pled guilty to racially-aggravated assault and harassment.
In September, he was given a 20-week suspended sentence by magistrates.
In his thirteen years with North Wales Police, a police officer who investigated the attacks described the abuse as the “most revolting” he had witnessed.
In March, Wilson, from Star near Gaerwen on Anglesey, was captured on camera holding Mr. Igene by the neck in the restrooms of the Cube nightclub in Bangor.
The footage showed him addressing his victim with racial epithets and asking him to “go home.”
Wilson had confronted Mr. Igene at the nightclub three times in three weeks, each time spewing racial slurs.
He referred to the victim’s skin tone and West African ancestry in a series of insulting terms.
Mr. Igene, a business graduate, told Newyddion S4C, “(It’s) made me depressed – made me suicidal – has destroyed my happiness and my career.
“Why would you merely observe my skin color and immediately dislike me?”
“No matter where you’re from, everyone bleeds the same.”
A member of the public discovered a video of the final assault on social media and filed a police report.
Wilson pleaded guilty to one count of racially-aggravated common assault, two counts of racially-aggravated harassment against Mr. Igene, and a further count of racially-aggravated harassment after hurling insults at a security guard outside of a takeaway in Bangor.
Caernarfon magistrates gave the 20-week suspended sentence and ordered Wilson to pay £500 in restitution to his victim.
Wilson was prohibited from approaching Mr. Igene for two years, and he was also instructed to avoid the nightclub.
In addition, he is prohibited from consuming alcohol for the next three months and must wear an electronic monitoring device to ensure sobriety.
“Debased” by racism
However, Mr. Igene felt that his attacker’s suspended sentence sent the incorrect message.
“He broadcast the film without my permission, humiliated me three times, and now you’re handing him a six-month suspended sentence,” said Mr. Igene, who relocated to Wales three years ago and lives in Llangefni with his partner.
“Those caught in the act of racially abusing others should be taught a lesson and punished according to the law.”
Dylan Rhys Jones, a legal expert, asserted that magistrates adhere to stringent criteria established by the British government.
The head of law at Glyndwr University in Wrexham said that the term should be increased if a government in the future decides to place a greater emphasis on ensuring that such crimes do not occur.
“Unfortunately, given the current state of affairs, magistrates can only operate within the government’s guidelines.”
Mr. Rhys Jones stated, however, that a suspended jail term is still a custodial sentence that can be given if other offenses are committed.
The Sentencing Council, which is an independent agency reviewing guidelines in the United Kingdom, sees suspended sentences as “both a punishment and a deterrent.”
surviving “trauma”
Mr. Igene stated that this was of little solace to him, as he continues to deal with what transpired.
“The people here are friendly,” he continued.
However, he was now “afraid to walk outside.”
“Because of the trauma, the anguish I’ve endured, and everything this Tomos has done to make me feel unwelcome, I do not feel welcome here.
“Going out on this estate, perhaps to a store, is like going to war for me.
“I have no idea what will occur next.”
