Eamon Mitchell was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court

by Paul Hooper

A man who tarnished the image of Canterbury by twice attacking foreign visitors to the city has been sent to prison.

Drunken drug taker Eamon Mitchell had been given a suspended sentence for his first unprovoked assault on two tourists from Spain.

Despite that, the 36-year-old boozed-up bully mocked a group of Chinese visitors – before slapping a shocked 18-year-old student in the face.

Now a judge has told Mitchell he has tarnished the good name of Canterbury because of his "anti-social, aggressive and violent" behaviour.

Judge Simon James told Mitchell, of Gillingham Road, Gillingham: "People who visit our country are entitled to look to the courts to protect them from random acts of aggression on the streets.

"Canterbury is an historic city and attracts visitors from across the world. Behaviour like yours just tarnishes the image of what should be a welcoming and attractive place to visit."

Mitchell – who has made 27 court appearances for 50 different offences – had admitted common assault and possessing heroin.

"once again your victim was a stranger from a different ethnic background than yourself…” – judge simon jones

James Bilsland, prosecuting, told Canterbury Crown Court how in January Mitchell stood outside a Tesco store in the city holding a beer can.

Four Chinese students heard him shout "f*** off" several times and as the 18-year-old put his hands up to protect himself, a laughing Mitchell scoffed: "Martial arts" - before mimicking him.

Mr Bilsland said that as the four walked away, Mitchell hit one of them before being confronted by passers-by, forcing the thug to drop his beer can and flee.

Police arrested him in Dane John Gardens and discovered a wrap of heroin in his pocket.

Mitchell admitted slapping the student but "it had nothing to do with him being Chinese", he told officers.

But in April 2010, Mitchell had been given a suspended jail sentence for racially aggravated assaults on two Spanish students – telling them: "Why don’t you just f*** off back to your country".

Judge James has now jailed him for a total of 40 weeks for the latest offences.

He told him that "once again your victim was a stranger from a different ethnic background than yourself".