A CLOWN has been fined by magistrates who heard that he swore at a 17-year-old boy and threatened to “flatten him”.

Children’s entertainer John Blackman, 44, was found guilty of harassment, but cleared of a second charge of racially aggravated harassment.

Blackman, of The Elders, Sutton Valence, near Maidstone, had been making balloon animals for children in Chelmsford, Essex, when trouble flared on November 29 last year.

Witham Magistrates Court in Essex heard how the clown, who goes by the name Balloonatic, approached a group of youngsters and was accused of being racist by a 17-year-old boy, who claimed that Blackman had used the word “blackie”.

The clown then threatened to “flatten” the youth unless he apologised.

Blackman denied using the term “blackie” and claimed he had approached the group of teenagers to see if they were OK because he saw a black youth speaking to them who had earlier abused him.

He said the teenagers turned on him because they were embarrassed by his brightly-coloured suit and “silly hat” covered in badges. He said: “I felt he was being rude so I went over and spoke to him firmly and told him he was an idiot. I didn’t threaten him. I wasn’t abusive.”

Blackman produced his clown suit in court, claiming he often had a “bad reaction” from teenagers.

He said: “Sometimes, teenagers think being dressed like a clown gives them permission to talk like that. We’ve had situations with teenagers before. We’ve had cakes thrown at us, aerosols and stink bombs thrown at us. It’s a sad day when these type of things occur.”

Blackman was arrested weeks after the incident when he returned to Chelmsford and was spotted by a police community support officer.

Blackman, who has been a clown for 16 years, was found guilty of harassment, fined £245 with £455 court costs.

When the Kent Messenger approached Blackman for a comment he said: “Not interested, which part of not interested do you not understand?”