A WOMAN leaving an Accrington supermarket with her daughters and nine-year-old grandson was subjected to a torrent of racist abuse and threats from a 57-year-old man who had inadvertently been smoking spice.

Blackburn magistrates heard Stephen Prestage thought he had smoked tobacco and had no recollection of the racially aggravated incident.

Prestage, of Barnes Street, Clayton-le-Moors, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated threatening behaviour towards Abida Anwar.

He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with a 30 day rehabilitation activity requirement, ordered to do 60 hours unpaid work and pay £100 compensation.

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Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said Mrs Anwar was leaving the Asda supermarket at about 6.50 pm when she saw the defendant staggering towards her and her family.

She assumed he was drunk because of the way he was walking.

As he passed them Prestage was saying abusive comments. He turned back and made some vile racist comments to Mrs Anwar before claiming he was a terrorist and if he had his knife he would cut her throat.

Helen Farnsworth, defending, said during the day Prestage had bought what he thought was tobacco.

"This distasteful incident has come about because he had inadvertently been smoking spice all day," said Mrs Farnsworth. "He has never taken spice before and has no recollection of what happened. He denies having any racist attitudes and wants to apologise to the lady involved."