Drunk Woman Escapes Jail After Antisemitic Outburst at Baker Street Deli
A woman who subjected diners at a renowned kosher deli in central London to a torrent of racist abuse while drunkenly shouting 'Free Palestine' has avoided immediate imprisonment after appearing in court. Mary Clarke's shocking assault on customers at Reubens Café and Bakery on Baker Street in the West End was partially captured on camera, revealing the full extent of her disturbing behaviour.
Sustained Attack on Innocent Families
The incident unfolded last July when Clarke, who had been binge drinking, first approached diners to ask whether the establishment was kosher. Upon confirmation, she launched into an antisemitic rant, accusing innocent families enjoying snacks of 'killing babies' before screaming 'Free Palestine' directly in their faces. Footage from the attack shows Clarke wearing a baseball cap and gym wear brazenly declaring 'I'm from f*cking Ireland' before throwing food over diners, including hurling an entire bowl of chips onto the floor.
One distressed diner can be heard in the footage explaining that Clarke had broken their phone by throwing it on the floor while making offensive comments about Jewish people. After her initial outburst, Clarke walked off but continued yelling incoherently before turning her attention to a group of men drinking at a table adjacent to the café.
Prosecution Details Disturbing Behaviour
Rhianne Neil, prosecuting, described how Clarke approached the table shouting 'Free Palestine', walked away, then returned to continue her tirade. According to Miss Neil, Clarke yelled: 'I'm Irish this is my country, I'm the only one saving babies these Jews are killing.' The prosecutor read from a witness statement by Reubens manager Simmy Grover, who characterised the incident as 'abusive, alarming and distressing', adding: 'I find this behaviour disgusting and unacceptable.'
Clarke, from Camden, pleaded guilty to two counts of racially aggravated harassment, one count of racially aggravated criminal damage, and one count of racially aggravated common assault. Appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court wearing a black belted coat over a white shirt with her hair tied back, she listened as her defence counsel explained the circumstances behind her actions.
Mitigating Factors and Sentencing Decision
Jacqui Joseph, defending, stated: 'She is totally mortified by her behaviour, she totally accepts her responsibility. She'd lost her mother, who she's very close to, a year prior to that. She was in essence, binge drinking. She was under the influence of alcohol.' The court heard that Clarke 'resides alone with her four-year-old son' and receives benefits but is 'actively seeking work'.
District Judge Sam Gozee told Clarke: 'You targeted the café, clearly knowing that it was part of the Jewish community, and making comments of a distressing nature to those who were simply enjoying the café. This was a sustained attack. You caused distress to multiple persons who were present at the café, and as I've said, there was clearly an element of targeting.'
The judge noted that 'racial aggravation is the predominant motivation of these offences' and that 'the offence was more serious because it was committed under the influence of alcohol', but decided to suspend the sentence for the sake of Clarke's child, for whom she is the sole carer. Clarke could be seen nodding in the dock as the judge acknowledged her remorse was 'clearly very genuine towards all the members of the public that were affected by your behaviour of the day'.
Court-Imposed Penalties and Community Response
Clarke received a 25-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, during which period she will be supervised by probation. She was ordered to follow an alcohol abstinence programme and will be fitted with a tag to monitor her alcohol consumption. Additionally, she must pay £100 compensation to each assault victim and £43.50 to the café to cover damaged items. Clarke told the judge she understood and thanked him for suspending her sentence.
The Jewish Community Security Trust confirmed awareness of the incident, having sent officers to support affected families. A spokesperson commented: 'This is one of many antisemitic incidents to happen in recent months in which Jews have been subjected to hatred and abuse, with Israel used as the excuse.' The case highlights ongoing concerns about antisemitic attacks in London and the complex factors courts consider when determining appropriate sentences for racially motivated offences.
