Fish and chip shop owner and wife racially abused by customer shouting 'This is England'
Racist Liam James hurled abuse and threatened owners of Immingham fish and chip shop shouting 'go home to your own country. This is England'
Racist thug Liam James was jailed at Grimsby Crown Court (Image: Humberside Police)
A racist thug hurled abuse and threatened a chip shop owner with a knuckle duster.
Drunken Liam James shouted at the owners "to go home to your own country. This is England. What are you doing here?"
At Grimsby Crown Court he admitted racially-aggravated violence and possession of the knuckle duster in a public place.
Sentencing him to a total of two years in prison, Judge John Thackray QC said: "This was appalling violence. You made fearsome threats with a fearsome weapon. It was sustained and caused substantial distress."
Having listed many of his previous 141 convictions, the judge said he had been offered plenty of chances with conditional discharges, suspended sentences and community orders.
"Your chances have run out. You cannot be rehabilitated in the community. You have proven that time after time," said Judge Thackray.
He sentenced James, 26, of Pelham Road, Immingham to two years in prison for possession of the knuckle duster and 12 months for racially-aggravated violence. The sentences will run concurrently.
Millard's fish and chip shop in Immingham, where the owners were racially abused (Image: Google Street Maps)
Prosecuting, Jeremy Evans said staff at Millards fish and chip shop on Pelham Road, Immingham recognised James when he burst into the shop at 9pm on January 11 from a previous incident.
Mr Evans said James had called in on December 30 and his behaviour fell well below that of a welcome customer.
Staff saw him carrying a white bag in one hand and a knuckle duster in another.
Manager, Clare Delatouche told him to calm down after he started making violent threats.
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"Don't Liam me or I'll smash you too," he told her, the court heard.
Mr Evans said he later threatened to bring mates to the shop and swung the knuckle duster at the owner, even though he was over one metre away on the other side of the counter.
He shouted and swore and said: "This is England. What are you doing here? This is my country. Go back to your own country."
During the racist tirade which lasted between five and 10 minutes, he hurled abuse at the owner's wife. He then left.
Reading the victim impact statement, Mr Evans said the owner was fearful the incident would have a detrimental impact on his family and business.
He came to England 20 years ago from Turkey and he is a Kurd.
"It has had a terrible impact. We have owned the shop for over five years without incident," he said in the statement.
The court was also told James admitted smashing five windows at Grimsby solicitor's firm Roy Foreman and Co on Victoria Street in December which he was sentenced for at Grimsby Magistrates' Court last month.
In October James was jailed for 24 weeks after admitting assault, threatening behaviour in Immingham and breaching a suspended prison sentence imposed for two offences of assault and three of theft.
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For James, Saleem Khan said: "In the cold light of day, when he is sober and not taking illicit substances, he is remorseful."
He added: "He used drink on this occasion and drugs on previous occasions to masks his depression and anxiety."
He said his client is expecting a substantial compensation payment from the Ministry of Justice after being scalded in prison.
"He will use that and hopes to move away from this area so he can start over again," told Mr Khan.