A RACIST threatened to ‘cut the throat’ of a man after racially abusing him in a Hereford pub.

Jason James, 46, said he would have stabbed Nicholas Bishop if he had had the weapon with him in The Exchange.

Hereford Magistrates Court heard last week that James then posted threatening messages about Mr Bishop before throwing snooker balls at the victim’s car.

James, of Springfield Avenue, Hunderton, Hereford, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment, possessing a knife, criminal damage and committing an offence during a suspended sentence.

Adrian Jones, prosecuting, said the offences began on February 1, when Mr Bishop, who was born in Ghana, was in The Exchange pub playing pool.

James started a conversation with Mr Bishop about politics and when the latter said he wasn’t interested, James became very abusive.

He said: “What has any other race done to contribute to the world?”

James went on to abuse all Muslims and was ejected from the pub because of his conduct.

James then posted a comment on Facebook stating that he was going to stab Mr Bishop, adding that “no bananas were required”.

This wasn’t reported to police as Mr Bishop thought that it was “better not to antagonise the situation”.

In May, James sent a message to The Exchange landlord stating he was going to ‘cut the throat of Nick’.

On May 7, the defendant attended Hereford Snooker Centre and saw Mr Bishop parking his BMW outside.

“James then picked up a tray of snooker balls and threw them at the car causing £2,787 worth of damage,” said Mr Jones.

James was later arrested and found to be in possession of a kitchen knife – which he stated he carried for protection.

On interview James said that if he had a knife with him when he was angry he would stab Mr Bishop. He denied being racist and said he damaged the car after drinking 12 pints of cider.

The court heard James was previously handed a 12 week prison sentence suspended for two years in 2016 for a harassment offence.

Emma Prosser, mitigating, said James has changed his medication and his behaviour has improved.

Deputy District Judge Nalla Lawrence sent the case to crown court to be sentenced.

“The first offence is too serious for this court and deserves 12 to 18 months in prison.

“I find it astonishing that he didn’t realise he was being racist,” he said.