A Radcliffe yob racially abused and attacked a man he knew in the centre of Bury.

Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard Rhys Warburton, of Mather Street, saw Christopher Sibley in November last year.

Mr Sibley had bags of shopping in his hands and Warburton charged at him and shouted racist abuse.

Footage played in court showed Warburton striking him while he was on the ground.

The assault only came to an end when members of the public intervened.

Rhia Abukhalil, prosecuting, read a victim impact statement from Mr Sibley.

It said: “I did not deserve to be racially abused and assault.

“I suffer from fear and distress.

“I am scared of seeing him again in the future.”

When spoken to by the police, Warburton claimed he had acted in self defence.

He had been due to appear in Wigan and Leigh Magistrates for a trial but did not attend.

The 27-year-old was convicted of racially aggravated actual bodily harm in his absence and appeared in crown court to be sentenced.

Patrick Buckley, defending, said he had taken steps to address his problems including drug problems.

He said he had completed courses including in consequential thinking and had a certificate from this.

Judge Ruth Griffiths said she did not feel Warburton had made enough progress to be released.

She said: “There is no place for racial abuse and I will impose a sentence that makes it clear to those that use racial abuse that it is unacceptable.

“Work needs to be done and you are not ready to be released into the community.”

Judge Griffiths jailed Buckley for 18 months.

She also imposed a restraining order banning him from contacting Mr Sibley for two years and ordered that a victim surcharge of £156 be paid to him as compensation.