A man has been sentenced to 30 weeks in prison following a racially aggravated assault in Gateshead. The incident took place in the early hours of July 2 on Sunderland Road, where the victim, a man in his 30s, reported being threatened by Garry Miller after repeated doorbell ringing.

Court proceedings revealed that after the victim asked Miller why he was ringing the doorbell, Miller responded with racial slurs before punching the victim in the face. Footage from the doorbell camera showed no hostile behavior from the victim during the encounter.

Miller, 31, of Kipling Walk, Gateshead, was arrested on the same day and subsequently charged with racially aggravated public order offenses and threats to commit criminal damage. He appeared at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court on July 3, where he pleaded guilty and was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing.

Sergeant Andrew Hyde of Northumbria Police’s East Gateshead Neighbourhood Team described the assault as “completely unacceptable” and emphasized the serious nature of the racial abuse involved. He reiterated the police commitment to addressing racism and violence within the community through firm enforcement.

Northumbria Police also encouraged victims of racist abuse or assault to report incidents via social media direct messages, the force’s live chat function, or official report forms on their website.