A FORMER church youth worker has been jailed for 10 months for taking part in a racist incident in a kebab shop.

Richard Holdsworth, 36, of Grantham Avenue, Deal, had gone out for a Champagne birthday celebration with friend Mark Scott, 38, and their partners.

But Canterbury Crown Court heard how the two drunken men and the women then went into a kebab shop in Sandwich High Street in December last year.

Darren Weir, prosecuting, said that after ordering their meals, Holdsworth objected to the staff talking to each other in Turkish. The father of four swore and shouted: "Speak in English".

Mr Weir said that during the argument, Scott ran at one of the staff, Ozan Bodur, and head-butted him in the chest.

The incident was captured on CCTV and shown to the court - although most of it took place off camera.

Mr Weir said that staff and a member of the public managed to get the two men away and the police were called. Mr Weir said: "Holdsworth was shown the CCTV tape and he said that he was embarrassed by his behaviour."

Holdsworth pleaded guilty to causing racially aggravated fear of provocation to Ozan Bodur. Scott, of St Martins Road, Deal, pleaded guilty to common assault on Mr Bodur and was jailed for five months.

Katie Fox, for Holdsworth said he accepted that his behaviour that night was "deplorable," adding: "but he is not someone who holds racist views".

She added that the four had been out celebrating a birthday and had drunk beer and Champagne before going to the kebab shop.

She said that Holdsworth mistakenly believed that staff was making derogatory remarks about his partner and that is why he asked them to speak in English.

The incident had escalated and the two men found themselves facing a large number of staff, some armed with knives, who were goading them.

Miss Fox added that Holdsworth had received a "hefty" punch and a kick during the argument. She said that Holdsworth had changed his life around some years ago and overcome a drugs problem. He had been a youth worker at his local church.

Miss Fox said that Holdsworth's partner worked as a drugs and alcohol counsellor for KCA while he looked after the four children, aged between four and 13.

Danny Moore, for Scott, a former chef, said he had got involved in the argument because he thought his friend was in danger.

"They should have all behaved better that evening. His behaviour was ridiculous in the circumstances."

Judge Timothy Nash, in jailing the two, said he had a duty to protect people from having to face "this sort of behaviour".