A man described in court as a ‘racist pest’ has been handed a new community order following another serious breach of the law. Ryan Tozer, 31, has a long record of offences and has repeatedly failed to comply with court orders in the past.
Despite already being subject to a community order related to a previous racist incident, Tozer made vile racial slurs at a security guard at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. He escalated the situation by throwing coffee and spitting at the guard.
Judge Amy Jacobs, sentencing Tozer at Birmingham Crown Court, highlighted the ongoing challenge: “He keeps doing the same thing. He’s had custody, suspended sentences, community orders. Nothing seems to work as a carrot or stick to encourage him to behave better or discourage misbehaviour.”
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The judge voiced concerns about how to protect the public from Tozer and how to break his cycle of offending, stating: “I struggle a little to see the best way to protect everyone from him and break the cycle of offending.”
Previously, on 24 July last year, Tozer was arrested for making racist remarks in public. While in police custody, he continued his abusive behaviour – including urinating on the floor, attempting to bite an officer, and spitting at staff. He was subsequently given a community order by Wolverhampton magistrates.
Although Tozer attended several probation appointments, he made threatening and abusive voicemails towards probation officers and behaved aggressively during face-to-face meetings.
On 1 July, the incident at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital occurred after a security guard intervened to calm him due to Tozer kicking doors in the emergency department. The situation escalated with racial abuse, the throwing of coffee, physical aggression, and spitting.
Tozer has a substantial criminal record, with 42 previous offences including criminal damage, assaults, public order offences, and repeated breaches of court orders.
During sentencing, defence barrister Milo Macbeth acknowledged that Tozer engages well with support workers when not under the influence of substances and that those working with him consider him redeemable. He pointed out Tozer’s traumatic childhood and history of mental health issues.
Judge Jacobs described Tozer as an “absolute pest” but recognised the mental health challenges he faces. She sentenced him to another community order with a 120-day alcohol abstinence requirement, five months of location monitoring, and rehabilitation activity days. Tozer also received two weeks’ imprisonment for breaching a previous court order, though this was discounted as already served on remand.
The judge expressed doubt that short prison sentences would be beneficial and emphasised the importance of addressing the underlying issues that contribute to Tozer’s offending.
Speaking via video link from Birmingham Prison, Tozer admitted, “I’ve now realised drugs are doing it. After all these years,” and mentioned his passion for music as part of his personal reflection.