A teenage racist and bully repeatedly hurled foul abuse at a railway worker and made threats about his family, a court heard.

Paul Cox and another youth picked on Harjinder Singh seven times at Gravesend station, leaving him afraid the threats would be carried out,

The 19-year-old yob, who has amassed 34 convictions and breached Asbos, also robbed a teenage boy of his bike and assaulted his father and brother when they tried to get it back.

Cox, of Charter Street, Chatham, admitted racially aggravated harassment, robbery and two offences of common assault.

“We live in a multi-cultural society and we are justifiably proud of being a tolerant and welcoming society. I make it absolutely clear language of the type used has no place within our community” - Judge Philip Statman

He was sentenced to two-and-a-half years’ youth custody after a judge asked his lawyer: “What is wrong with him? I have seen the way he behaves in the dock. You just see his personality.”

Maidstone Crown Court heard Mr Singh was on platform duties on February 3 last year when Cox and another used racist language as they walked past him.

Cox told the victim: “You can report it to who you like. We will take you outside and beat you.”

Prosecutor Tom Dunn said: “He felt angry and threatened.”

Later that day the pair returned and called out more verbal abuse to Mr Singh. It happened again the next day.

On March 6, Mr Singh asked to see Cox’s train ticket and was told he did not have one and he was not going to buy one.

Told he would not be able to travel, Cox said: “My name is Paul Cox. Where do you live? I am going to have you outside.”

He called the victim an offensive name as he left the station.

Cox returned later that day and when told again he could not travel without a ticket, he told Mr Singh: “I am going to find out where you live and I am going to burn your house down.”

Two days later Cox threatened more violence. Then in June he told Mr Singh he had found out where he lived and gave a local address and personal details about his family.

Cox and his fellow offender were identified from CCTV footage. The other was later sentenced to nine months for the racist comments he made.

Judge Philip Statman told Cox: “We live in a multi-cultural society and we are justifiably proud of being a tolerant and welcoming society.

"Your language to Mr Singh was an absolute disgrace and thoroughly intimidatory. I make it absolutely clear language of the type used has no place within our community.”

A restraining order banning Cox from contact with Mr Singh was made for five years.