A filling station staff member was racially abused by a violent customer after being confronted about shoplifting.

Thomas Scott, 48, shouted racist insults during a foul-mouthed rant during which he also attempted to attack the worker at the Esso garage on Dereham Road in Norwich. 

Norwich Magistrates’ Court was told he had been seen placing items in a bag by the staff member but when told he would have to pay he attempted to hit the worker.

Police operators on the other end of the 999 call heard him using racist terms. 

Scott, who now lives in Camden in London, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated abuse and possession of cannabis. 

He has 24 previous convictions for 41 offences.  

Lucy Brakewell, mitigating, said: “He was absolutely disgusted by his behaviour when he later viewed it on CCTV. He had been drinking which is not an excuse and he fully accepts what he did was wrong.”

Magistrates ordered him to pay the worker £250 compensation and do 80 hours unpaid worker as part of a 12 month community order.