Northants councillor spared prison after racist outburst at Turkish restaurant owner

Long Buckby parish councillor Mark Osborne, 47, of High Street, was found guilty of using racially abusive language at at a trial in June, having pleaded not guilty.

At sentencing yesterday (Wednesday), Wellingborough Magistrates Court heard how Osborne became involved in a heated dispute with Abdurrahman Ozdogan, owner of the now-closed La Tiella restaurant.

Osborne was furious about the way Mr Ozdogan had parked in the primary school gates, having been sent a letter asking him not to.

He entered the restaurant and pointed at him, swearing at him and telling him to move his car.

When Mr Ozdogan refused, Osborne said “this is our village, you should **** off to where you came from”.

He also accused Mr Ozdogan of “employing all the foreigners”, only for a British chef to be produced, before telling Mr Ozdogan to “watch his business and his car”.

Osborne – son of Northants County Council councillor Steve Osborne – admitted expressing anger and that words were exchanged, but continued to deny that he used racist language.

Mitigating, Mr Jeffery said Osborne was a man of good character and that this was a one-off incident.

Sentencing, chairman of the bench Mr Bate said: “We feel that a prison sentence is not appropriate, although it is an unpleasant offence.”

Osborne was handed a 12-month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay costs of £775, compensation of £100, and a victim surcharge of £60.