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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Man charged after BBC reporter suffers racist abuse | Man charged after BBC reporter suffers racist abuse |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A man has been charged after a BBC reporter was subjected to racist abuse as she prepared for a live broadcast. | |
| Sima Kotecha said she and her team faced "racist and abusive behaviour" while preparing to conduct interviews in Leicester city centre on Sunday. | Sima Kotecha said she and her team faced "racist and abusive behaviour" while preparing to conduct interviews in Leicester city centre on Sunday. |
| Russell Rawlingson, 50, of Glenfield Road in Leicester, has been charged with threatening and abusive behaviour causing distress. | |
| He will appear via video-link at Leicester Magistrates' Court later. | |
| Ms Kotecha was due to interview people on Sunday evening following the prime minister's statement on the coronavirus lockdown. | |
| The segment was cancelled and the incident reported to police. | The segment was cancelled and the incident reported to police. |
| A BBC spokesman said: "While preparing to broadcast, our reporter, her production team and guests were subjected to racist and abusive behaviour. | A BBC spokesman said: "While preparing to broadcast, our reporter, her production team and guests were subjected to racist and abusive behaviour. |
| "We will not tolerate racism or abuse of our staff." | "We will not tolerate racism or abuse of our staff." |
| Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk | Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk |