AN IRISHMAN has admitted to verbally and physically abusing a fellow countryman in what has been described as a racially aggravated assault.
According to the Lincolnshire Echo, Darren Matthews physically attacked Martin Doocey outside a Co-Op shop in Market Rasen, Lincolnshire while also chanting racist verbal abuse at the victim.
After he was arrested, he admitted to police that he was involved in a fight with Mr Doocey but said Doocey had provoked him and was "up for a fight".
Lincoln Crown Court heard that Mr Doocey provoked Mr Matthews. Matthews appeared to walk away but returned after a comment was made outside the shop.
Solicitor Mark Watson, in mitigation, said Matthews "was not inspired by a dislike for the Irish community but a dislike for Mr Doocey."
He also said that Matthews was Irish himself and had no dislike of the Irish.
Matthews, 40, of King Street, Market Rasen, admitted racially aggravated assault occasioning actual body harm and a breach of a six-week suspended jail sentence imposed by Lincoln magistrates in October 2015 for possession of an offensive weapon.
The Court handed Mr Matthews a 12 month community order with supervision.
