by Dan Bloom

dbloom@thekmgroup.co.uk

An alcoholic drank three bottles of wine and a pint of lager in a Christmas party at the Ashford International Hotel before unleashing a racist tirade on the deputy manager.

Forty-year-old Justin Foster, of Beaver Road, told Ashford Magistrates' Court he couldn't remember the incident in which he swore at Adam Jackowski in Polish, then shouted: "This is England".

Foster, who pleaded guilty to the offence last Wednesday, hurled the abuse at Polish Mr Jackowski despite working at electronics firm SBE Ltd where four-fifths of the workers were from Poland, the court heard.

Keith Betts, for the defence, said Foster had always got on with his Polish colleagues at the Beaver Industrial Estate firm, learning some of their language, and his behaviour was utterly out of character.

Events began to unfold at 11.30pm on December 17, when staff found Foster asleep between two function rooms.

He left with three friends but returned alone just after midnight, when he was approached by another manager and Mr Jackowski.

Evelyn Hawkins for the Crown Prosecution Service said: "Initially Mr Foster was friendly and agreed to go outside but said he had no money for a taxi.

"Mr Jackowski said he would call one so he phoned reception, at which point he spoke to them in Polish. Mr Foster then tried to speak Polish too but all he was doing was swearing in that language.

"He then tried to grab Mr Jackowski's tie and shouted 'this is my ******* country. This is England.'

"Police were called at half past midnight and arrested Mr Foster."

The court heard Foster, an alcoholic, would drink two bottles of wine or half a bottle of whiskey every other night after beating a serious drug addiction in around 2007.

Mr Betts said: "Mr Foster went to a Christmas party and clearly had far too much to drink.

"Today for the first time he has read in black and white what those members of staff said. He is ashamed. He can't explain why he made references to the victim's nationality. It was the drink talking.

"He apologises to the victims, the other members of staff and the guests who witnessed what happened that night."

Foster was convicted of causing harrassment, alarm or distress with racial aggravation.

He was bailed on condition he did not enter the International Hotel or drink or be drunk in a public place. Sentencing was adjourned until Wednesday, January 19.