AN IMPATIENT chip shop customer launched into a tirade of abuse about Chinese immigrants because he believed he wasn't going to get his order in time, magistrates heard.

The male and female staff at the Eastcott Fish Bar in Old Town, Swindon were subjected to Adam Lawson's drunken insults even after a police officer asked him to calm down.

Prosecutor Stacey Turner said the officer arrived at the shop in Eastcott Road last Monday, to see the defendant leaning over the counter gesticulating and shouting at the assistants.

Lawson, 23, of Bath Road, ignored him at the officer and then lunged at them.

When he managed to get him outside and asked what the problem was, Lawson stood close in an aggressive way.

In a speech littered with both foul and racist language, he said he just wanted his food and they wouldn't cook it.

"We're English and they're just immigrants.

"You're English like me, you don't believe this crap about these immigrants," he said to the officer whose statement was read out in court.

Mrs Turner said he ignored repeated requests from the officer to calm down and moderate his language and was he eventually arrested.

At Westlea police station he continued his drunken diatribe, saying that they were all British and had to stick together against immigrants.

Lawson admitted to the court racially aggravated threatening behaviour.

Lawson's solicitor, Rob Ross said the incident was something that took place when his client was clearly drunk.

"He has expressed regret and incredible embarrassment at what he did," he said.

"The most offensive thing is probably his use of foul language in talking about Chinese and immigrants."

Lawson was having a longer wait than he thought was reasonable for his food, explained Mr Ross.

It was likely that he hadn't really been aware of what he was actually saying.

It was unfortunate, but shop-keepers were probably used to dealing with that sort of language that could be heard in any pub or club when people had a few drinks.

The defendant could not remember what words he had used but accepted the officer's account and accepted that he had acted in a racist manner.

Although Lawson had a number of previous convictions, there was nothing in his history of a racist nature.

"We are not talking about a BNP thug," said Mr Ross.

The Swindon bench imposed a daily curfew restricting Lawson to his home between 8pm and midnight until November 7.

Tina Clarke