Man sentenced for racially aggravated assault outside Market Rasen Co-op

Darren Matthews, 40, of King Street, had earlier been involved in a verbal altercation with his victim Martin Doocey before they clashed again outside the store.

Prosecuting, Andrew Scott, said Mr Doocey challenged Matthews to a fight but Matthews appeared to walk away only for something to be said which led him to return to the outside of the shop.

Matthews used derogatory language towards Mr Doocey and made reference to his Irish nationality, before launching the attack leaving Mr Doocey with a black eye, damage to his nose and a sprained ankle.

After he was arrested he admitted to police he was involved in a fight with Mr Doocey but said Doocey had provoked him and was ‘up for a fight’.

Matthews dmitted a charge of racially aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm as a result of the incident on March 17.

He also admitted breach of a six week suspended jail sentence imposed by Lincoln Magistrates in October 2015 for possession of an offensive weapon.

He was given a 12 month community order with supervision.

Mark Watson, in mitigation, said Matthews has been making progress since his last sentence and had attended all his appointments with the probation service.

He said Matthews was actually Irish himself and had no dislike of the Irish community.

Mr Watson said: “This was not inspired by a dislike for the Irish community but a dislike for Mr Doocey.”