Man smashed up slot machines in Telford casino after he lost money and someone called him an asylum seeker, court told
A stroke survivor smashed up slot machines in a Telford casino with a stool and a fire extinguisher after being called an asylum seeker, a court heard.
Rebaz Babaker, who is 35, flew into a rage at the Merkur Slots casino in Oakengates after misunderstanding how the machines worked and being "insulted" by someone who called him an asylum seeker, Telford Magistrates Court was told.
Babaker, of Wilmot Road, was a regular at the Oakengates branch but during a visit on June 14 this year he became "increasingly agitated" and began hitting one of the machines, prosecutor Charlotte Morgan told the court on Friday (October 24).
The shop manager asked him to leave at which point Babaker began shouting abuse and threatening to "smash up" the machines.
"He picked up a stool which he used to hit one of the machines, smashing the screen," Ms Morgan said.
"He then picked up a fire extinguisher and smashed the screen of another machine before leaving the casino."
In all Babaker caused £1,000 of damage. The incident was caught on CCTV and he was later arrested and charged with criminal damage. He pleaded guilty on Friday.
Mitigating for Babaker, Steven Meredith said the defendant had suffered a stroke in 2021 which had affected his ability to manage his emotions and control himself when he becomes frustrated.
Mr Meredith said that Babaker "does not fully appreciate how the casino works" and that on June 14 he had gone to play the slots on the assumption that "if he put money in, he would get money out".
"Whilst that's true, it's not always going to be the case.
"He became frustrated and he did bang on the machine."
Mr Meredith said that at this point he was confronted by someone who "referred to him as an asylum seeker".
Babaker, who spoke some English in court and was assisted by a Kurdish interpeter, has been in the UK for 10 years, Mr Meredith said.
"His anger at this insult led to him committing these offences. His words, which you may have heard, were 'I shouldn't have done it'.
"He is remorseful."
The magistrates handed down a fine of £80 and ordered Babaker to pay compensation of £1,000 to Merkur Slots for the broken machines.