Delivery man racially abused on his round in Telford

Shrewsbury Crown Court was told that Joshua Richards, 26, shouted racist abuse at the victim.

Sentencing, Judge Anthony Lowe said he was a bad role model to his young children.

Richards, of Doddington, admitted charges of possessing an offensive weapon and using racially aggravated abuse likely to cause harassment or alarm, at an earlier hearing.

He was given a six month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and was ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work and complete 40 rehabilitation days.

Sati Ruck, prosecuting, told the court that the delivery man went to Richards' home in March, giving a parcel to the defendant's partner.

Richards opened a first floor window and shouted racist abuse at the man for waking him up.

He then followed him to his vehicle brandishing a claw hammer because, he said, the delivery man had walked across his lawn.

The court heard he continued his racist comments.

He hammered on the driver's window and tried to open the door but, Ms Ruck said, it was locked.

"The victim continued with his deliveries and then saw Richards driving towards him on a quad bike, trying to block his path," she said.

"The police were called and Richards rode off."

The judge heard that in 2015 Richards had admitted a charge of carrying a bladed article.

Having two offensive weapon convictions meant that under new parliamentary legislation a mandatory sentence of six months imprisonment applied.

Stephen Scully for Richards said the judge could suspend that sentence.

He said Richards was the sole provider for his partner and their young children, and that if there was an immediate jail sentence his family could lose their home.

Since getting a mechanics apprenticeship two years ago he had kept out of trouble, he said.

Judge Lowe told Richards that giving him an immediate sentence would not help him tackle his prejudices and racist behaviour.

"It would also be your partner and children who would suffer," he said.

"To take a pop at someone because of the colour of their skin is ludicrous," he said.

"As a father you should be a role model to your children. You are the worst type of role model and I hope they will not come in front of the court in a few years time because they behaved as they saw their father behave, because they did not know better."