Restaurateur Malcolm John subjected to racial abuse by irate diner

Chef-restaurateur Malcolm John has recounted how dealing with an irate customer who called him a "black b" was the worst experience of his career.

John, who runs restaurants in Sutton, Chiswick and Croydon, was confronted by Kevin Boxall, 43, at Brasserie Vacherin on Sutton High Street who came in to complain about an alleged assault at the venue two weeks earlier.

John said he had no knowledge of the incident and invited Boxall to report it to the police but Boxall became angry, at which point he used the racial slur.

John escorted Boxall from the restaurant, only to be called a "black c*" from the pavement.

"Although I'd been racially abused I'd got him out of the building and I was prepared to continue my day as if nothing had happened. But he then proceeded to racially abuse me again from outside the restaurant.

"At that point I thought enough was enough. I went outside, I restrained him and I held him there until the police arrived," John told the http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/chefs-shock-after-diner-calls-him-black-b-a3183951.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">London Evening Standard.

He added: "It was the worst time I've had. That's never happened to me in 30 years.

"It was a shock to the system. I couldn't believe somebody would walk into my business and do that to me."

Boxall, of Wales Avenue, Carshalton, was convicted of racially aggravated harassment at Croydon Magistrates' Court following the 30 June incident. He was fined £930 and told to pay £620 in costs, plus a £15 victim surcharge.

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