A DRUNK who hurled racist and homophobic abuse while in a busy town centre pub has been given one 'final chance' to avoid prison.

Allan Hamilton became agitated and aggressive while in the Keys nightspot on Yarm High Street in the early hours of December 21 last year.

When staff called the police to have him removed, the 30-year-old became abusive towards some in the bar shouting 'P*** grass and faggot' resulting in his arrest.

Jenny Haigh, prosecuting, told Teesside Crown Court how the defendant was made subject of a suspended sentence in November 2018, following a number of domestic abuse incidents with a former partner, including arson and criminal damage.

Miss Haigh said Hamilton phoned his then partner to tell her that her clothes were outside the house they shared and when she returned home they had been set alight.

Hamilton, of Tithe Barn Road, Stockton, pleaded guilty to a racially aggravated public order charge and a suspended sentence breach.

His barrister, Michele Turner said there was little in the way of mitigation, adding: "It was entirely unpleasant and distasteful incident for those who witnessed it."

Judge Stephen Ashurst decided to defer sentence until November 20 to give Hamilton 'a final chance' to prove he can stay out of trouble.

"In December last year when you were in drink, you started behaving in a grossly offensive manner in the Keys in Yarm," he said. "It was both racially and homophobic abuse and being in drink is no excuse."