A psychology student launched a foul-mouthed, racially charged tirade at a hospital security guard – before attempting to argue that her outburst wasn’t racist because the victim was “white” and “Welsh”.
Layla Ahmed, 20, hurled abuse at security staff at Cardiff’s University Hospital of Wales after attending A&E with her sister, who was experiencing seizures at the time. Cardiff Magistrates’ Court heard the incident unfolded on the evening of 8 December last year.
Prosecutor Nicholas Evans told the court that Ahmed became aggressive towards staff and was asked to leave by security officer Ian Sullivan. It was at this point she shouted: “You f***ing Welsh c.***” . When challenged over her language and warned that it was racist, she retorted: “How is that racist? You’re white. You’re Welsh.”
The court heard Ahmed, of Catherine Street in Cathays, later admitted one count of racially aggravated harassment.
Her solicitor, Amelia Butt, explained that Ahmed had acted out of desperation due to concern for her sister’s wellbeing. “This can be seen in the footage where her sister is having a seizure on the floor in the background,” Ms Butt said. “Miss Ahmed was frustrated at staff not being able to treat her sister and she accepts she made comments solely out of desperation in the heat of the moment.”
Ms Butt described her client as remorseful and said she fully accepted responsibility for her words. “She is 20 years old and has never been arrested before or since. She is studying psychology and also works part-time as a support worker earning around £100 a week. She receives a student loan of £3,400 every four months.”
Ms Butt further argued that the disturbance was relatively minor. “I don’t agree it was a substantial disturbance. It was not a situation where other intervention or additional assistance was required.”
Sentencing, District Judge Rhys Williams said: “You were frustrated by the situation. You were asked to leave by the security guard and you used abusive language towards him. That language included a racial element and it was directed at a security guard who was only doing his job in that situation.”
Ahmed was fined £120 and ordered to pay £50 compensation to the victim, £85 in prosecution costs, and a £48 victim services surcharge. She must repay the total at a minimum rate of £20 per month.
