New Korean restaurant boss shocked by racial abuse

Dima Kim said he was upset by the abuse he had received

A businessman says he has been racially abused and intimidated ever since he opened a restaurant in a town just under three weeks ago.

Dima Kim, 45, from Highbury Vale in Nottingham, runs A Taste of Korea in Main Street in Kimberley, Nottinghamshire, which opened on 23 October.

He claims groups of teenagers threw eggs at his restaurant, intimidated him and called him racially offensive names on 4 and 5 November.

On Monday, Nottinghamshire Police said it had arrested a 13-year-old boy on suspicion of racially aggravated public order and criminal damage.

Eggs have been thrown at the windows and walls of Mr Kim's restaurant

Mr Kim said he has had to repaint some of the outside of the building, because of damage caused by smashed eggs.

"My property's brand new, inside and outside," he said. "They've damaged the paint outside... the main thing is we can't do anything to stop it from happening."

He said he had "seen racism in this country, but not like this".

In a separate incident, Mr Kim claims his wife was grabbed around the throat by a man at the restaurant on 1 November.

Police said a 55-year-old man had been arrested following the incident, on suspicion of racially aggravated violence.

In response, police introduced a dispersal order in Kimberley, covering Main Street and surrounding roads, which ran from 16:00 GMT until midnight on Thursday.

That order was later extended and ended at midnight on Sunday.

A Taste of Korea restaurant opened on 23 October

Mr Kim moved to Nottingham 22 years ago, and said he had always wanted a small, intimate restaurant where he could interact with customers.

He said he found the premises in Kimberley in the summer, and spent about £25,000 getting it ready for opening.

He said he chose Kimberley because he was looking for a small town, and he did not want to go to the city centre.

Mr Kim said: "Business was really, really good, and now we're getting comments like 'we're afraid to go to your shop'.

"But Kimberley people are supporting us, bringing us flowers, supporting us online which is really good."

'Concerns and misery'

Broxtowe borough councillor Andy Cooper, who represents the Kimberley ward, added: "The majority of residents in Kimberley are compassionate and caring. It's the minority that gives the town a bad name."

Police said it was aware of other businesses in the area that had also been a target of antisocial behaviour and inquiries were ongoing.

Neighbourhood policing sergeant Simon Boyles said: "We are continuing to take this antisocial behaviour seriously and we will be authorising further dispersal orders to protect our communities if we feel this is necessary.

"Our proactive patrols will continue, and I want to reassure members of the public that we will take appropriate action against individuals who cause safety concerns and misery for local people and businesses."