Ross Vodden was spared prison after he was convicted of racially aggravated behaviour after he shouted racist insults at a police officer who confronted him for kissing a stranger in the street . The widower of the woman who inspired the Beatles song Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds has avoided jail after he launched into a racist rant at a police officer . Ross Vodden , 53 , kissed a woman who he did not know in the street , and then swore at a policeman , calling him ‘ n***** ’ and ‘ black c*** ' when the officer confronted him about the incident , Westminster Magistrates ’ Court was told . Vodden was convicted of racially aggravated behaviour after a trial last month . He was married to Lucy Vodden , who died in 2009 after a battle with lupus . As a child Mrs Vodden is said to have been the inspiration behind Beatles song 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds ' , having been friends with John Lennon 's son Julian at school . The hit song had been rumoured to be about LSD , but Lennon insisted the song was inspired by a picture of Lucy , drawn by his young son . The court heard that on 14 September 2014 Vodden had caused alarm after he planted a kiss on a stranger in Brook Street , Westminster . Malachy Packenham , prosecuting , said : ‘ Police were made aware that the woman had been kissed on the lips by another member of the public as he passed her on the street . ‘ An officer went to speak to the male , who immediately became aggressive and confrontational. ’ In his rage Vodden called the police officer a ‘ f***ing black c*** , ’ a ‘ n***** , ’ and a ‘ black b****** ’ , as around 20 people stood nearby . Following his conviction Vodden , who appeared at court today wearing a black bomber jacket emblazoned with colourful symbols and multi-coloured leg warmers , was handed a suspended prison sentence for the incident . District Judge Richard Blake warned he would be sent to prison if convicted of another outburst . ‘ You have clearly got a lot of issues so bear in mind when things happen there are two ways of dealing with it - turn away and smile or get involved , ' said the judge . ‘ You have got to come to terms with the gravity of this case and the consequences if it happens again . ‘ If there is a repeat of this behaviour , when you are particularly unpleasant , racially abusing people , you will go to prison. ’ Vodden ( left ) was married to Lucy Vodden ( right ) , who died after battling lupus . Mrs Vodden had previously gone to school with John Lennon 's son Julian and is believed to have inspired Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds . The Beatles are pictured in 1967 when their Sgt Pepper 's Lonely Hearts Club Band album was released . Vodden had previously told the judge he thought the case was 'nonsense . ' He added : ‘ You must consider it real but it happens all the time. ’ The court heard Vodden is now living off benefits and is on a waiting list for social housing . He said he is willing to engage with mental health services . He was given a 12 week prison sentence suspended for a year , ordered to pay £120 court costs and an £80 victim surcharge . Lucy Vodden , who was Lucy O'Donnell before her marriage , went to nursery school in Surrey with Julian Lennon , the son of John Lennon , and the pair became friends . When he was four Julian came home from school with a picture , which he showed to his father . He described his drawing as 'Lucy in the sky with diamonds . ' At the time Lennon was gathering material for the album , Sgt Pepper 's Lonely Hearts Club Band , released in 1967 . Critics often claimed they believed Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds was a reference to LSD but Lennon denied the claim . The song was initially banned by the BBC because of its supposed reference to the drug . Mrs Vodden died of lupus , an autoimmune disease which causes the body to attack its own cells , in 2009 . Six months before he death Julian Lennon was made aware of her disease and got back in touch with her . Julian Lennon drew this picture in the 1960s and told his father it was 'Lucy in the sky with diamonds '
Ross Vodden kissed an unknown woman in the street , who told police . When police officer approached him Vodden hurled racist language at him . Vodden was convicted of racially aggravated behaviour but avoided prison . Judge told 53-year-old he would go to jail if he was convicted again . Vodden was married to Lucy Vodden - the inspiration for a Beatles song . Lucy was friends with John Lennon 's son Julian at nursery and he drew a picture of her as 'Lucy in the sky with diamonds ' - inspiring song 's name . Mrs Vodden died in 2009 after a battle with autoimmune disease lupus .