A TEENAGER who made racist threats and said he would rape a man and stab his son following an argument about DVDs has been sentenced by magistrates.

Magistrates in Newton Aycliffe heard a discussion between Kyle Lewis William Fleming and an Asian man over DVDs loaned by the latter escalated into a shouting match on Wednesday, June 18.

Joanne Hesse, prosecuting, said the victim had threatened to burn Fleming’s house down and had accused Fleming’s girlfriend of spreading rumours about him.

The next day Fleming, of Stainmore Walk, Newton Aycliffe, made numerous racist threats towards the victim in front of a housing officer at the charity that helps both men.

Mrs Hesse said: “Kyle made racist threats, saying ‘you better get round to [the victim’s] house and tell him to keep him away from my door and girlfriend or I will stab his son and rape him in front of his son’.”

Magistrates heard how the victim received a 12-month conditional discharge on Friday, July 4, after admitting using threatening behaviour.

Fleming, 19, pleaded guilty to making racially aggravated threats on the same date and his case was adjourned for probation reports.

Stephanie Thompson, mitigating, said Fleming, who has no previous convictions, had lost his temper, but had no intention of carrying out the threats.

She said: “He is deeply ashamed of the comments he came out with and certainly doesn’t consider himself a racist. He has friends of many different origins.”

Fleming received 12 months probation supervision and was ordered to pay a £35 fine, court costs of £50 and a £60 victim surcharge.