A 60-year-old man has pleaded guilty to racially abusing former BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Nihal Arthanayake outside a pub in Altrincham, Trafford. Graham Groves, from Stretford, admitted causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress on the first day of his trial at Minshull Street Crown Court.
The incident occurred on 28 April 2023 outside the Old Market Tavern. Arthanayake, 55, had gone to the pub to collect his wife from a work event and sat next to Groves on a bench. During their conversation, Groves asked if he could call him 'Nick' and whether he was a doctor. When Arthanayake asked why, Groves replied: 'Because you're a P***.'
Arthanayake confronted Groves about his language, but Groves repeated the slur and then used the N-word, though the court heard the latter was not directed at Arthanayake but intended to 'get a rise from him'. Groves later told Arthanayake to 'ignore me, I'm a massive c***', to which Arthanayake replied he was 'just a standard c***'.
Groves was arrested eight days later and gave a 'no comment' interview. In mitigation, his barrister said Groves is a full-time carer for his disabled daughter and has no memory of the incident, adding that he is 'not a racist person' and 'wishes to apologise'.
Sentencing, Recorder Imran Shafi KC said: 'This was a case of being drunk and using ill words. There is a difference between being racist and using racist words.' He fined Groves £400, payable at £20 per month, and told him: 'Be nicer to people when you're out, and don't get yourself into trouble again.'
