A FURIOUS man squared up to a PCSO after claiming he racially abused him, a court has heard.

Neil Cunningham parked his VW Golf on zigzag markings on Norris Road in Sale Moor on April 1, 2019, blocking off traffic.

At this point PCSO Alex Stubbs saw Cunningham getting out of the car and told him he could not park there.

At Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, February 25, Ann Deacon, prosecuting, said Cunningham, of Cross Street, Sale, called the officer a “jobsworth” before leaving.

But soon after, PCSO Stubbs, who thought the matter had been resolved, came across Cunningham again.

The defendant was “staring” at the officer from across the road.

“He was mouthing something and had an aggressive look on his face”, Miss Deacon said.

“He got into his car and drove towards the PCSO.

“The defendant got out of the car and began shouting ‘you called me a black b******’.

PCSO Stubbs denied he racially abused Cunningham, who continued to shout at the officer, pushed him slightly and called him a “fat b****** and white b****** trash”.

Miss Deacon said Cunningham was “extremely aggressive” and the officer felt “he was going to be assaulted”.

A woman, who was nearby, said the confrontation was making her young son upset.

Cunningham then got back in his car and drove off towards Northenden Road, but he was traced through his vehicle, which the officer had earlier captured on camera, and later charged.

In a statement read by Miss Deacon on behalf of PCSO Stubbs, the officer said he would never make racial slurs to anyone.

As PCSOs do not have the same protective policing equipment as police officers, Mr Stubbs “felt vulnerable and felt he was “coming to serious harm”.

The case was taken to a trial where Cunningham was found guilty of assaulting an emergency worker and driving without due care or attention.

The trial found that the assault was not racially aggravated though.

The court was told Cunningham, 58, had committed 116 previous offences.

Defending, Richard Sibeon said the defendant maintained he believed a racial slur had been made but it is “accepted by him that he dealt with the situation badly”.

Chairwoman of the bench, Sara Moreton, handed him a four-week curfew and he was banned from driving immediately for six months, with points already on his licence.

Cunningham was also ordered to pay £150 in costs, an £85 victim services surcharge and £50 in compensation to PCSO Stubbs.