Hot tub racist Sean Cannon spouted abuse at Worthing neighbour

Sean Cannon landed himself in hot water for all the wrong reasons in Worthing.

He left the victim and their family in fear of violence and sent vile messages.

The 31-year-old plumber had shouted racist abuse at the neighbour in the early hours of the morning and was later seen banging on the door to continue the tirade.

The family said the abuse had made them feel unsafe in their own home, but want other victims who experience abuse to report it to the police.

At Worthing Magistrates’ Court Cannon admitted using threatening, abusive or insulting words and behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress, and racially aggravated abusive behaviour likely to provoke fear of immediate unlawful violence.

Worthing Magistrates Court.

The court heard how Cannon was in his hot tub during the offence in September last year.

He had sent threatening text messages to his neighbour.

In a statement they said: “I want to thank the police for their prompt and professional response, which meant they were able to witness some of the racial abuse that my family and I were subjected to.

“We have lived in our home for 18 years, and this incident made us feel unsafe. I hope this case encourages other people who have suffered hate crime to report it to the police.”

Sussex Police said: “In the early hours of September 22, 2020, Cannon was in his hot tub when he started shouting racial abuse towards his neighbour, whom he had earlier sent threatening text messages to.

“Cannon then took to banging on his neighbour’s front door, continuing to shout racial abuse. Police were called and attended the scene, where they arrested Cannon.”

Sean Cannon spouted racist abuse at a neighbour in Worthing from his hot tub

Cannon, of Warren Road, Salvington, Worthing, admitted the charges and was ordered to do 180 hours of unpaid work.

He must also pay £100 in compensation, a £95 surcharge and £85 court costs.

Sergeant Peter Allan said: "I am pleased the court acted to increase the sentence, to reflect the racial nature of Sean Cannon’s behaviour.

“I hope this case sends out a clear message that we will take a robust approach to those who perpetrate behaviour that can have an impact on people, for nothing more than being who they are.

“I also hope the sentence will encourage victims of hate crime to report such behaviour to the police. We appreciate how difficult it can be for victims and witnesses to give evidence, but we will support them throughout the process.

"Hate crime can be reported to us by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency.”