Man told boy, 15, '˜Get back to your country'

Martin Bramley, 52, made the comment through his solicitor after admitting racially aggravated assault on the teenager.

A four-month jail term, suspend for a year, was imposed on Bramley of Vale Road, Mansfield Woodhouse. He must undergo six months of treatment to tackle an alcohol problem.

His solicitor Katherine Macmillan told magistrates: “He doesn’t believe he is racist.

“Last year, he was engaged to a Jamaican lady, the love of his life. Very sadly she died, which gets Mr Bramley extremely upset when he talks about it.”

She described Bramley as a “long term alcoholic” who was very remorseful about the incident. He had sought help with his problem after getting into trouble.

Nottingham Magistrates’ Court heard that the incident took place at 5.30pm on May 3. The boy was walking across the Old Market Square when he felt a blow on the back of one leg.

Leanne Townsend, prosecuting, said he turned round to see Bramley “taking a fighting stance, holding his fists up and standing with his legs apart.

“He made a comment ‘get back to your country’ and ‘I am going to chop your head off.’ He put his fingers across his neck, indicating he was going to slit his throat.”

When arrested, police found Bramley was drunk and “could not recall exactly what happened. He became apologetic during the course of the interview.”

Miss Townsend added: “The victim was vulnerable. He was attacked from behind and is a young boy.”

The court heard that Bramley had 39 previous convictions, including two “racially aggravated offences.”

Presiding magistrate Chris Charter told him: “This was a very unpleasant serious incident and totally unprovoked. Clearly you were drunk.

“You picked on a boy and used obscene racial comments against the boy. It was totally uncalled for.

“You have been in court before and you have breached orders. This is like a final warning. If you breach this you are likely to end up in custody.”

Bramley must pay a £115 government surcharge and told the magistrates: “Thank you for your leniency.”