UPDATE: Friday 7 December 9am – Michael Peters found not guilty.
The trial of a 27 year-old trainee solicitor who is accused of racially abusing a bouncer at a lap dance bar began yesterday…
Michael Peters, a trainee with Leeds-based O’Garra’s Solicitors, allegedly used a racist term in a bust-up with a bouncer following a disagreement with management over a 20% surcharge payable for a lap dance, a bottle of beer and two shots of Sambuca. Peters’ total bill apparently came to £42.
According to David Marriner, the owner of the Red Leopard lap dancing club, Peters didn’t just use a racist term, but made a big deal about his status as a solicitor.
Marriner told the court that Peters “kept on mentioning what he did for a living and he kept handing out cards. He said he was a solicitor in Leeds.”
He added that Peters said “you can’t touch me I’m a solicitor”.
The bouncer, Sully Mohammed, said that Peters told him: “I am a solicitor and you are just a doorman.”
Peters denies racially aggravated behaviour. His barrister suggested to Marriner and Mohammed that they had fabricated the racial allegation in order to escape trouble for detaining Peters unlawfully after the dispute.
There is a more detailed case report at the Yorkshire Evening Post