A man who called a black policewoman who arrested him a 'coconut' has been convicted of a hate crime.

David Reed, 40, who is himself black, targeted the officer with a 30 minute abusive rant that also saw him label her a ‘Bounty bar’.

Both are highly offensive terms used to accuse someone of betraying their race by implying they are brown on the outside but white on the inside.Eastern Daily Press: David Reed was ordered the pay the woman PC compensation after singling her out for racial abuseDavid Reed was ordered the pay the woman PC compensation after singling her out for racial abuse (Image: Norfolk Constabulary)

Norwich Magistrates’ Court heard Reed had singled out the officer for abuse while being processed at the Wymondham Police Investigation Centre after being arrested on June 15. 

READ MORE: Norfolk bucks national trend with fall in racist and religious hate crimes

Prosecutor Rima Bejum said he had become angry because his detention had caused him to miss a family occasion. 

She said when the officer had objected to being singled out for specific abuse because of her race he had told her: “If you cannot handle it you’re in the wrong job.”

In a statement read out in court, the PC said the comments had been a “dig for being part of the police”. 

She said the comments had caused her to feel angry and upset. 

“I should have been able to carry out my police duties without being singled out and not treated as equal with the other officers,” she added.  

READ MORE: Women now make up one in three Norfolk police officers

Eastern Daily Press: Magistrates were told Reed had become angry while being processed in custody at Wymondham police investigation centreMagistrates were told Reed had become angry while being processed in custody at Wymondham police investigation centre (Image: Newsquest)

Reed, of Stylman Road in Norwich, admitted racially aggravated harassment under the Public Order Act for using ‘threatening, abusive or insulting words, with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress’.

The court was told he had 35 previous convictions for 72 offences. 

Lucy Brakewell, mitigating, said: “He lost his temper and used words he should not have done. He has apologised albeit not to the officer in person,” she said.

Magistrates ordered he pay fines and costs of £386 saying they this reflected the racial overtones that amounted to a hate crime.  

They also said he should pay £50 compensation to the police officer.