A MAN who smashed property at a kebab shop went on to hurl racist abuse at a policeman, a court heard.

Officers were deployed after Lee Sinclair smashed a covid screen and table in a kebab store.

The 37-year-old was later found outside a bar in Station Road, New Milton and arrested.

Prosecution barrister, Lucie Taylor, told how he was described by officers as being drunk and incoherent due to his slurred speech.

She said that two more officers were called to the scene in order to transport Sinclair into custody.

However, he became verbally aggressive and used an extreme racial slur too offensive to publish.

Miss Taylor told how during the journey to Southampton, he continuously banged his head against the inside of the van.

Despite, being handcuffed he managed to smash one of the lights in the ceiling of the vehicle, the court heard.

During an interview in his cell, he stated he had not done anything wrong and did not know why he was there.

But Sinclair again became aggressive, hurling abuse at the officers and telling them to leave his cell.

Miss Taylor, said that the defendant’s victim had not heard the racial slur at the time.

Appearing at Southampton Crown Court, Sinclair was charged with criminal damage, using threatening words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress which were racially aggravated.

He pleaded guilty to the offences which happened on July 19 this year.

He also admitted to breaching a restraining order on two occasions in August.

Sinclair has 27 previous convictions for 60 offences.

These include public order, offences against the person and property, breaches of community orders and also three weapons offences.

Defending, Richard Onslow, argued his client ‘needs some help for multiple personalities’.

He also said that Sinclair, formerly of Fortescue Road, Poole, had been drinking too much and that had been a problem for him over the years.

The court recorder, Benjamin Newton, jailed Sinclair for 16-weeks, suspended for two years.