A COVENTRY radio presenter has spoken out after she was racially abused in Coventry city centre yesterday (Wednesday).
Trish Adudu, the breakfast show host for BBC Coventry and Warwickshire, was called a ‘n*****’ by a man riding on a bicycle while she walked to her car on Cox Road at 9.30am.
Ms Adudu tweeted about the incident, claiming she saw the cyclist tell an Asian man to ‘go home’ before turning on her an yelling the racial slur.
Calling on people to work together to stamp out this ‘vile abuse’, Ms Adudu said: “I would love for the other man who was there to come forward, because this is not just about me.
“If the guy on the bike could be so vile in such a short period of time, then what else could he go on to do? Who’s next?
“Someone is going to get hurt.”
The incident comes just days after West Midlands Police Chief Constable Dave Thompson promised a zero tolerance stance on hate crime following last week’s referendum result.
Inspector Alastair Orencas is leading the investigation and has vowed to use all available resources to track down the person responsible and bring them to justice.
The suspect is described as a pale white man, clean shaven, of small, thin build, aged in his mid-20s.
He is also appealing for the Asian man who was also abused by the cyclist to come forward.
Insp. Orencas said: “There is absolutely no place for this type of sickening and deplorable behaviour on the streets of our city and we will be doing everything we can do identify the perpetrator.
“If anyone can tell us who this person is, or if anyone was in the area at the time and has information which they think may assist us, I would urge them to come forward.
“I would also appeal directly to this individual – if it was you who shouted these words, do the right thing and hand yourself in.”
Anyone who thinks they may have experienced or witnessed hate crime is urged to report it by calling West Midlands Police on the 101, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111, or report it via the True Vision website.
