Last updated at 12:09, Tuesday, 26 June 2012

A man who racially abused a Polish takeaway worker in Carlisle has been jailed for four and a half months.

Reece Bellas, 21, admitted a common assault on George Feghali, the owner of Chung’s takeaway in Botcherby Avenue, and a racially aggravated common assault on a Polish worker at the business.

District Judge Gerald Chalk was told that Bellas, of Borland Avenue, Botcherby, was seen outside the shop with others on Friday evening. He went into the shop and started yelling racial abuse at a Polish worker, adding that he was “100% from Carlisle.”

When asked to leave, he refused, became agitated, and spat at one of the assistants, the court was told.

The shop’s owner then restrained Bellas, getting him to the floor but the defendant got up and walked out.

After the shop’s owner tried to calm Bellas down, he turned to go back into the shop and felt a bang as Bellas threw a bottle which hit him on the back of the head.

Jane Mackrill, prosecuting, said the owner of the takeaway told officers that Bellas was “bearing his teeth like a dog” and trying to “goad” the staff to fight with him.

Geoff Clapp, defending, said his client has had previous problems with a member of staff at the takeaway.

He added that the couple who own the shop were very nice people.

The incident was alcohol fuelled and Bellas was ashamed that he acted in a violent manner.

Passing sentence, judge Chald said Bellas, whose mother was in court, had admitted a sustained assault on people who were giving a service to the public. He was jailed for a total of 130 days for both assaults.

First published at 11:30, Tuesday, 26 June 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk