A RACIALLY abusive man has been handed a suspended sentence after sending racist text messages.

Ian Ferguson entered a guilty plea when he appeared before a district judge in Kidderminster.

The court heard the 34-year-old had pursued a course of conduct which amounted to racially aggravated harassment of a man in Leominster between April 6 and 30, sending him a number of racially abusive text messages.

Ferguson, of Blanchard Close, Leominster, was handed a 14-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, a three-year restraining order, and must pay compensation of £1,000 to the victim.

No order for costs or a victim surcharge was made due to his lack of means.