MAGISTRATES agreed to postpone a trial to allow a teenager accused of racially abusing a car washer to go on holiday.

The bench at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court said they were not happy about Paul Anthony Kailofer’s request to cancel his July trial but agreed to vacate the date to allow him to go on a family trip to Spain.

However, a trial is now no longer necessary as the 19-year-old from Hemsley Drive, Coundon, near Bishop Auckland, pleaded guilty to a different charge.

He had been accused of using racially aggravated behaviour towards an Iranian car washer, a charge he denied.

But after discussions with Kailofer’s solicitor, Lawrence Petterson, the Crown Prosecution Service agreed to remove the racial element.

Kailofer, who appeared at court today (June 24), admitted using abusive words towards the car washer.

Prosecutor Vicky Wilson said the man was working at the car wash at the Thinford Inn near Spennymoor on November 30 last year.

The man had been to the nearby Mcdonalds to buy food, but as he was leaving the diner Kailofer, who was a rear seat passenger in a parked car, yelled abusive names at the car washer.

The manager of the McDonalds also witnessed the abuse and reported it to police, the court heard.

Mr Petterson said the incident only lasted a few seconds and that Kailofer used the “unsavoury language” after the car washer made a face towards the teenager’s girlfriend.

Before he entered the plea to the new charge, Kailofer had asked the court to vacate the three hour trail due to be held in July.

Mr Petterson said the father of Kailofer’s partner had organised a surprise week-long holiday in Spain for the whole family which fell on the trial date.

He said the court had arranged the trial in March with the holiday being booked at the beginning of June.

The court heard there were three witnesses set to attend the trial with the next available date for it to be heard being on October 13.

After some deliberation, chairman of the bench Beryl Swinbank told Kailofer: “We are not happy about it but we will vacate your trial.”

The court heard the 19-year-old, whose partner recently had his baby, has no previous convictions but did receive a caution in 2009 for racial harassment.

After he admitted the new charge, magistrates fined Kailofer £35 and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.