A FATHER-of-one hurled a barrage of abuse at staff from an Indian restaurant and smashed a window at the premises, believing a friend was assaulted by one of them.

Drink-fuelled Mark Gilbert, of Meadow Walk, in Pershore, was one of a gang of about 15 men who followed one of the waiters back to Jimmy Pickles restaurant in the town's High Street and launched the attack.

The frightening ordeal lasted for half an hour, only ending after police arrived, magistrates were told.

Twenty-year-old Gilbert, a printer, appeared before Worcester Magistrates Court, last Thursday, where he admitted using threatening or abusive words or behaviour, which was racially aggravated. He also admitted a further charge of racially aggravated criminal damage to a window.

He was given a 12-month community order comprising 250 hours unpaid work and a supervision requirement and also ordered to pay £440 compensation and £43 costs.

Deputy District Judge Christopher Jervis warned him he had narrowly missed a prison sentence.

He added: "It's quite plain to me you were quite vociferous outside the shop premises and racially aggravated offences are normally ones which are dealt with by a custodial sentence."

Prosecuting, Emma Lile said one of the restaurant's waiters had gone to get some fish and chips but returned as a group of people were shouting racial abuse at him.

As he went out again, he was followed by a group of 15 men who chased him back to the restaurant, trying to force the door open.

She said: "At that point Gilbert ran towards the restaurant and hit at the window, breaking it and saying 'come out or I'll break all of the windows.'" In mitigation, Paul Stanley said the 'unfortunate catalyst' that evening was the amount he had had to drink.

He added: "He was out with friends celebrating his new job and thought one of his friends had been assaulted by someone from the restaurant."