Layla Ahmed, 20, was at Cardiff’s University Hospital of Wales with her sister who ‘was having seizures,’ when she called a security guard a ‘f***ing Welsh c***’
In a shocking incident at Cardiff’s University Hospital of Wales, a student hurled abuse at a security guard, calling him a “f***ing Welsh c***”, a court heard. The 20-year-old pleaded guilty to racially-aggravated harassment after her words landed her in the dock.
Layla Ahmed, a 20 year old psychology student, found herself at the Heath hospital on December 8 last year when her sister suffered seizures, as described by defence solicitor Amelia Butt at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court. “This can be seen in footage where she is seen to be having a seizure on the floor in the background,” Ms Butt explained.
Prosecutor Nicholas Evans recounted how Ahmed became aggressive and was consequently asked to leave by security guard Ian Sullivan. It was then that Ahmed lashed out at Mr Sullivan with the words: “You f***ing Welsh c***.”
Challenged about her use of racist language, she retorted: “How is that racist? You’re white. You’re Welsh.”
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“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,” the defending solicitor explained.
Despite being from a proud nation with a long history of independence, the Welsh are not a racial group. However, under the Equality Act 2010, national origin is a protected characteristic and discrimination against it is considered unlawful racial discrimination.
Residing on Catherine Street in Cathays, the student entered a guilty plea for racially-aggravated harassment, reports Wales Online.
Ms Butt highlighted her client’s concern for her sister and expressed remorse on her behalf. “She is remorseful,” the solicitor stated to the court.
“She accepts she should not have said what she said. She is 20 years old and has never been arrested before or since.”
The court heard that Ahmed receives a student loan of £3,400 every four months and supplements her income with part-time work as a support worker, earning approximately £100 per week.
“I don’t agree it was a substantial disturbance,” maintained Ms Butt. “It was not a situation where other intervention or additional assistance was required.”
During the sentencing, District Judge Rhys Williams remarked: “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.”
The judge handed down a £120 fine, along with ordering £50 compensation to the victim, £85 for prosecution costs, and a £48 victim services surcharge.
Ahmed has been directed to make payments at a minimum rate of £20 per month.