A RACIST who chased three Asian men with a hammer, threatened to kill them and shouted racial abuse has been jailed for 18 months.

Drunken Anthony Randall also made racist remarks to two Asian taxi drivers and damaged one of the taxis in a separate incident, Teesside Crown Court heard yesterday.

The 24-year-old, a recovering heroin addict, armed himself with the hammer following an argument with a woman in Wicklow Street, Middlesbrough. He shouted racial abuse at passer-by Wasir Mohammed and lunged at Mr Mohammed before he was able to run off.

Richard Bennett, prosecuting, said: "He encountered the defendant again, who was running towards him with a hammer, and said I am going to kill you. Mr Mohammed ran off and was chased by the defendant.

"He was waving the hammer around and shouting, racial abuse."

The father-of-three stopped chasing the victim and turned his attention to another Asian man and shouted more racial abuse.

He said: "Get out of our country," before attempting to hit the man with the weapon.

He also threatened to break the man's windows, said Mr Bennett, before running off and passing Imran Kahn, who was calling the police.

Randall, of Essex Street, Middlesbrough, again shouted racial abuse and threatened him with the hammer.

The court heard that while he was on bail for these offences he shouted racial abuse at a taxi driver and threatened to knife him.

He also shouted racist remarks at another taxi driver who came to help and kicked the door of the taxi causing damage.

Johnny Walker, in mitigation, said Randall had been deeply embarrassed by the incidents.

Judge Les Spittle told him: "People are entitled to be on the streets and be able to go about normal life without being threatened by drunken yobs like you.

"We live in a multi-cultural society and we must live together and we do live together as equals. Behaviour like yours is not helpful."

Randall pleaded guilty to three counts of racially aggravated assault, affray, racially aggravated criminal damage and criminal damage.