MARTIN BIGGINS FROM DURHAM INVOLVED IN RACIST OUTBURST NEAR SCOTSWOOD ROAD

In August 2019, a disturbing incident unfolded involving Martin Biggins, a known sex offender from Durham, who found himself at the center of a racially charged altercation in Newcastle. The events took place after Biggins was ejected from the Switch Bar, located on Scotswood Road, following a night of heavy drinking.

According to court proceedings, Biggins, aged 28 at the time, became involved in a heated confrontation with a nightclub bouncer. The altercation was reportedly triggered when the bouncer reminded Biggins of his ex-partner, who is of mixed race. Witnesses and prosecutors described how Biggins, in a state of intoxication, took off his shirt, seemingly as a precursor to violence. He then challenged the bouncer to a fight, shouting offensive language, including the phrase 'p*** c***'.

After being asked to leave the premises, Biggins proceeded to walk onto Scotswood Road, where he continued his racist tirade. As police officers arrived at the scene, he directed more racist abuse towards them. During this confrontation, Biggins threatened to spit at an officer and shockingly claimed to have AIDS, adding a layer of menace to his behavior.

Records reveal that Biggins has a long history of criminal activity, with over 50 arrests since 2006. Notably, he has failed to pay any of his court fines since 2017, indicating ongoing issues with compliance and accountability. The court was informed that Biggins, who resides on Durham Road in Durham, attributed his aggressive conduct to mixing prescription drugs with alcohol, which he claimed impaired his judgment.

Defense attorney Sophie Allinson expressed that Biggins found the breakup of a significant relationship extremely difficult to handle, which contributed to his intoxicated state and subsequent anger. She emphasized that his actions were not racially motivated but were a result of his emotional distress. The court also heard that in February, Biggins appeared before the court after an incident where he headbutted an ambulance following a night of excessive drinking.

It was further revealed that Biggins is a registered sex offender due to a conviction for indecent exposure in 2013. He expressed concern that if jailed, his sexuality might make him a target, which appeared to influence his behavior and attitude during court proceedings. Ms. Allinson acknowledged that Biggins had not appreciated the dangers of mixing alcohol with medication but insisted that he had begun to turn his life around.

Ultimately, Biggins pleaded guilty to charges of common assault against an emergency worker and racially aggravated harassment. The magistrates sentenced him to a four-month curfew, requiring him to remain at his residence from 7 pm to 7 am, as a measure to prevent further incidents.