A racist who abused and assaulted a boy in a kebab shop and told a teenage girl of his hatred has been jailed for 10 months.

Samuel Cook, who has a long record for racial crimes, confessed he could not help himself for his bigotry.

Maidstone Crown Court heard he hurled abuse at a 16-year-old teenager as he waited for a food order at Istanbul Kebab in Edenbridge High Street on March 9.

He then grabbed him around his throat and pushed him into a chair when the boy tried to phone police.

Two days later in Edenbridge High Street the painter and decorator confronted two 15-year-old girls who had witnessed the violence in the takeaway.

He told of his racial hatred and admitted: “I can't help myself."

Cook, 41, has 27 previous convictions for 52 offences, including battery, threats to kill, possessing a knife, seven assaults and public order matters all racially motivated.

He once abused three Turkish employees when a delivery service was late.

A judge said he would be failing in his public duty if he did not jail Cook. But he was due for immediate release because of time spent on remand.

Judge David Griffith-Jones QC told of his “extraordinary” disbelief that Cook had never been jailed before for race crimes.

“You ought to be thoroughly ashamed of yourself..." - Judge David Griffith-Jones QC

Cook, of Shakespeare Road, Tonbridge, admitted racially aggravated common assault and a public order offence involving threats of violence.

The judge said both incidents were wholly unnecessary and frightening for the teenagers.

"The story that has been told in court about these two offences is a sorry, and even a disgusting, one,” he said.

“You ought to be thoroughly ashamed of yourself.

"Quite apart from the racial motivation, it's an aggravating feature that the (assault) victim was a child, the offence occurred in a public place quite late at night, and in the presence of others, including children.

"There is also aggravation in your previous history. Immediate prison sentences are demanded. Nothing less will do given the seriousness of these offences.

"Were I to pass anything less I would be failing in my public duty."

The court heard that while in custody Cook missed his wedding day on May 14.

Ben Irwin, defending, said Cook lost his temper after some provocation in the kebab shop.

"The way he behaved in respect of the racially-charged comments and when he grabbed the boy around the throat, was utterly unacceptable,” he said.

"It is a pretty clear example of a person losing their temper and behaving in an appalling way. His fiancee has stood by him.”

A five-year restraining order banning Cook from Edenbridge was made.