A NORTHWICH man who racially humiliated a restaurant worker because his food was cold has been punished at Northwich Magistrates' Court.

Paul Richard James Tolley, of Marple Road, appeared on Thursday after admitting using racially aggravated threats and abusive or insulting words following an August 18 incident at KFC on Chesterway.

Keith Jones, prosecuting, said the 39-year-old former HGV driver went to the service counter to complain about the temperature of his food.

He was said to be aggressive and demanded the head office telephone number from worker Mohammed Imran before saying, "I'm with the National Front".

Mr Jones said: "A colleague went to speak to the defendant and was told, "I don't want to get you in trouble. Look, I'm part of the National Front. There is no black in the Union Jack."

Tolley admitted in police interview he had directed racial abuse at Mr Imran and reaffirmed 'I'm a fully paid up member of the National Front."

But David Abbott, defending, said his client was not a member of 'any of these sort of organisations' and blamed his aggression on a previous road accident.

He added: "This left him in intensive care and then hospital for a six-month period.

"He suffered quite a significant brain injury which is permanent and has affected his ability to control his anger."

Mr Abbott said his client's medication had begun wearing off on August 18 and he believed staff members were 'digging their feet and being obstructive."

Chairman of the bench Keith Oakes said the serious nature of the crime could not be ignored.

He added: "We do not need to tell you this sort of behaviour is not acceptable. It was a racially aggravated public order offence and the victim was humiliated and vulnerable.

"We take on board your prompt guilty plea and the mental health problems you have got. You seem to be doing everything you can to control it."

Tolley was ordered to pay £50 for the offence, £150 compensation and £50 court costs.