TWO men behind racial attacks on two terrified teenagers have been slammed for their behaviour by a judge.

Burnley Crown Court heard how self-employed gas fitter Warren Lang, 23, and jobless Mark Hayden, 28, were both of previous good character.

The pair both still had difficulty in accepting they had ended up before a court and could not believe they had acted in such a way, the court was told. Sentencing, Recorder Philip Butler told the defendants their behaviour had been "quite disgraceful" and the law took such offences extremely seriously.

But, he continued, although the two 16-year-old victims must have had a terrifying experience and were subjected to racist taunts and profanities, their injuries were relatively moderate.

Hayden, of Sudell Road, and Lang, of Heyfold Gardens, both Darwen, admitted two counts of racially aggravated assault by beating.

They were each given 12 months community rehabilitation, 100 hours community punishment and must pay £500 compensation.

Roger Brown, defending Lang, said the defendant had been the worse for drink. He had been to see his GP because of the anxiety he had been feeling since the offences.

The barrister went on: "The defendant has to go into all sorts of people's homes in Blackburn and Darwen and there has never been any suggestion he has had any difficulty with that."

The court was told Hayden, who was on incapacity benefit, considered himself fortunate not to be sent to jail.