A 53-YEAR-OLD man racially abused two young Asian women as they were buying cola in a pound shop.

Blackburn magistrates heard Stephen Bullon appeared to take exception to the sisters taking several bottles of coke which were on a three for two offer but continued to be abusive even when they asked if he wanted some.

And he repeated racist comments to a member of staff who intervened in the unsavoury incident.

Bullon, of South Street, Darwen, was convicted after trial of racially aggravated threatening behaviour.

He was sentenced to nine weeks in prison suspended for 12 months with 15 days rehabilitation activity requirement.

He was ordered to pay £100 compensation to each of his victims, £100 costs and £115 victim surcharge.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said Sadia and Nadia Arif had never seen Bullon before and could not understand why he behaved in the way he did.

There was an 18-month-old child with them and many other shoppers who witnessed his outburst.

"They were shocked at how angry he became over a couple of bottles of Coke," said Miss Allan.

"It was a humiliating experience for these young ladies."

Colleen Dickinson-Jones, defending, said it had come to light that the medication Bullon was taking for epilepsy at the time of the incident had side effects including making people very aggressive.

"He can only put his violent outburst down to the fact he was on this medication," said Mrs Dickinson-Jones.

"He apologises to the two ladies and makes it clear there is no chance of anything like this happening again."