A 37-YEAR-OLD man launched a racially aggravated attack on a petrol station sales assistant.

Blackburn magistrates heard Vincent Ralph Cook took a partly chewed jelly snake out of his mouth and threw it in the other man’s face.

He later kicked him three times after his friend had thrown packets of crisps at the aggrieved.

Cook, of Worcester Road, Blackburn, was convicted in his absence of racially aggravated assault of Umar and using racially aggravated threatening behaviour.

He was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months and ordered to complete 15 days rehabilitation activity requirement and 80 hours unpaid work.

He was also fined £50 and ordered to pay £150 compensation.

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said Mr Hayat was working in the Essar filling station on Audley Range when two men and a woman came in.

Cook bought the jelly snake and then put it in his mouth before throwing it in the shopkeeper’s face.

“He left the shop but then kicked the door open and came back into the shop with another male,” said Mrs Yates.

“The other man was throwing packets of crisps at Mr Hayat and then the defendant kicked him three times on the shin.

Before he left, Cook said he was going to return and set the petrol station on fire.”

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said his client had initially pleaded not guilty because he claimed he had been assaulted in the course of the incident.

He said last year Cook lost his mother and father and his response to the emotional shock had been to resume using heroin and crack cocaine.

“These offences have acted as a wake-up call for him and he has not used since September,” said Mr Taylor.