AN INTOXICATED teenager launched a 'racially aggravated' late-night attack on a member of staff at a Hereford McDonald's.

Simon Caban admitted assaulting another person by beating in a racially aggravated attack when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

The victim had been near the end of his shift at a Hereford McDonald's at 11pm on December 18 when the assault happened, prosecutor Elizabeth Blacklock said.

Caban, who the court heard had clearly been drinking, had placed his hands on the victim's shoulders and was asked to stop touching him and to leave him alone, but instead started shouting expletives.

The victim, who said it was clearly racially motivated, said he had been very alarmed by Caban's behaviour, which continued as he was blocked from going near the victim by other staff.

But Caban then managed to slip past the victim's colleagues, throwing a punch that grazed the victim's face.

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Emma Thorne, for Caban, said the 19-year-old's memory of the incident was fuzzy and that he believes his drink had been spiked.

"He does have flashbacks of the incident, and is seen on CCTV," Mrs Thorne said.

"In interview he apologised for his behaviour and said he had been very intoxicated, but he finds it very hard to accept the racial aspect of this. He was born in Poland and does not consider himself racist by any means, but does not wish to call the claimant a liar.

"The use of the word 'foreign' is what has triggered this to be a racially aggravated offence, but that's a minimal part of the offence."

The court heard Caban still lives with his parents and is currently not working.

Caban, of Marlbrook Road, Hereford, was handed a 12-month community order with 50 hours of unpaid work and must pay compensation of £100. He must also pay costs of £70.