A DEESIDE drunk who accused a woman wearing a hijab of carrying a bomb in the street and caused misery across his town has been jailed

Maurice Leonard Taylor, of Fisherman’s Road in Connah’s Quay, was brought before Mold Crown Court admitting to various offences – including racially aggravated harassment and assault.

The prosecution, Mr Simon Mintz, told the court how the 48-year-old was said to have gone on a spree of anti-social offences around the Deeside area in the months leading up to the incident which landed him in court.

Taylor was said to be drunk and surrounded by empty beer cans when he confronted a woman confirmed in court to be of Bangladeshi decent that was waiting in the queue to use the bank last summer on July 21.

The woman – who was wearing a head scarf – was outside the Lloyds branch on Shotton High Street when Taylor began questioning her.

The court was told he approached and asked what was in her handbag – which she ignored.

Mr Mintz told the judge how Taylor was then heard stating to the lady “I know you are carrying a bomb in your bag” and told her to “go home and bomb your own kids and family”.

His victim was said to have been ‘reduced to tears’ outside the bank and called the police.

The court was told that the lady had been left feeling ‘emotionally drained’ and left being afraid to go out after the verbal attack.

Months later, she was able to pick Taylor out of an identity parade following a police investigation.

The court was told about other offences earlier this year around the Chester and Deeside area which were ‘persistent’ breaches of his criminal behaviour order imposed in October.

On January 12, he was spotted outside the Tesco Metro store (where he had previously been banned). He entered and was asked to leave by the manager.

The court was told he denied being Maurice Taylor before launching at the manager and crashing into a display rack.

He banged his head and threated the manager he had tackled saying he was going to ‘f***ing key’ them before a customer intervened and helped remove Taylor.

The incident left the manager feeling ‘nervous’ and was distressed by the invasion of her personal space – especially given the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

He was then said to have punched an off-duty prison officer in Iceland’s Shotton branch whilst drunk in the shop on January 23, says the prosecutor.

This happened after the manager caught him stealing two bottles of wine from the supermarket.

Furthermore, that same day, after being admitted to the Countess of Chester Hospital following an overdose he threated healthcare workers.

The court was told that he shouted COVID-related death threats before removing a canula and leaving blood on the hospital floor

The judge heard how a security guard – of Polish decent – tried to help staff manage the situation.

This ended with Taylor forcing some of the blood dripping from his hand into the guard’s eye during the altercation where he also told the man he was “not supposed to be in this country”.

The guard – who was left “stressed” by the whole incident – received a Hepatitis C injection as a precaution.

Days later, on January 25, he was reported to have kicked a police officer in the leg when complaining his handcuffs were too tight after being arrested for breaching a curfew order.

When questioned about this at the police station, Taylor claimed the police officer was in fact the one that attacked him

Jemma Gordon, his defence, said Taylor went on a drinking ‘binge’ in late January after his father died on January 23.

She said that, ultimately, he knows what he did throughout the days mentioned in court was wrong and apologises deeply for his actions.

Putting Taylor behind bars for a total of two years and eight months, the judge said that his prison sentence will be some ‘respite’ for the people of Deeside.

Judge Rhys Rowlands described Taylor’s pattern of behaviour as “deeply offensive” and “very unsettling”.

He was baffled by his behaviour – especially at the hospital in Chester where staff are already dealing with the immense pressures of COVID-19

His “depressing” criminal history did not help his case with years’ worth of violence and disorder on his record – several with racial elements.

“Ultimately, the people of Deeside and the police do deserve and will get some respite from your offending,” said the judge.

“It is clear you have a problem with the police, people in positions of authority and even with people for their race that has led to violence.”

The judge acknowledged how Taylor appeared to have “a real problem with drink” as it was a key factor in all cases brought to court.