A WOMAN challenged for stealing coffee from a Co-op store racially abused a shop worker and threw the drink at him.

Police have released CCTV images following an incident at the convenience store in Madeira Road, Bournemouth on Thursday January 21.

At around 7.45am a woman entered and made a coffee from the shop’s coffee machine. The woman then went to leave without paying for the coffee and a member of staff challenged her.

She responded by shouting racial abuse at the man and threw the coffee over his uniform.

The man was not inured.

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Police Constable Ryan Greenwell, of Bournemouth police, said: "We take hate crime such as this extremely seriously. It was a very distressing incident for the victim and we are determined to do all we can to identify the woman responsible.

"We have obtained CCTV images of the suspect and I would urge anyone with information as to her identity to please come forward."

Information to Dorset Police on 101, quoting occurrence number 55210013633, or the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.