CELEBRATING his wife’s birthday will cost a husband £750 because he racially insulted a member of staff at York Railway Station.

Steven Campbell, 50, told the barman: “Not even from around here, are you?” and shouted “…. Muslims” as police escorted him off the premises, said Simon Ostler, prosecuting.

The barman, who is black and speaks with an accent, had just refused Campbell and his wife entry to a bar at the station at 6.10pm because they were in drink.

For Campbell, Scott McLaughlin said: “He lost his rag. He’s sticking up for his wife. He says something and goes off and when the police come to him he is still upset.

“He could have said a lot worse if he was really looking to hurt the feelings of the complainant. “

Campbell, of Dunlin Drive, Blyth, Northumberland, pleaded guilty to two charges of racial abuse.

York magistrates fined him £500 and ordered him to pay £75 compensation to the barman, £85 prosecution costs and a £50 statutory surcharge.

Mr McLaughlin said the couple had come to York to celebrate the wife’s birthday.

Mr Ostler said Campbell swore at the barman when they were refused entry and the barman told him he was only doing his job.

Campbell then racially insulted him and “squared up” to him before walking off, said Mr Ostler.

British Transport Police officers found him in the Duke of York pub off Platform Three. As they escorted him out, he swore at them and as he was being taken out of the station shouted the Muslim insult.

Mr McLaughlin said it was an isolated incident which Campbell deeply regretted. He could face consequences at work as a result.