ONE of two brothers involved in attacks on Asian customers in Colne Asda has been jailed while the other kept his freedom.

Burnley magistrates heard how jobless Darren Brent Stewart, 24, and Gareth Craig Stewart, 20, had set about one victim in the early hours and Darren Stewart had then struck again, picking on another innocent man minutes later.

The court had been told how the defendants had lost their 12-year-old sister in a tragic accident two years ago, had not received bereavement conselling and had turned to drink to try to cope with their grief.

Darren Stewart, who had a previous conviction for racially- aggravated threatening, abusive or insulting words and behaviour and was in breach of a conditional discharge, was sent to prison for eight months.

Gareth Stewart was given a 12-month community order, with 160 hours unpaid work and must pay £150 compensation and £75 costs.

Darren Stewart, of Townley Street, Colne, admitted two counts of racially-aggravated assault causing actual bodily harm on February 16. His brother, of Hollins Road, Nelson, pleaded guilty to one allegation.

Bill Maude, prosecuting, told the court the first victim, Kamran Arshad, 28, a shopkeeper, was in the Asda store at 1am when he was racially abused and hit by the Stewarts.

The second victim, taxi driver Imran Mahmood, 30, was in the foyer.

Lee Hammond, defending, claimed the first incident was not completely unprovoked and there had been intimidation between the two groups.