A 25-year-old who racially abused a shop worker has been given a 12-month community order.

John Kenneth Stone, unemployed, of Jevington Gardens, Eastbourne, abused a shop worker who thought he was trying to buy cigarette papers for an under-age girl.

Stone must pay £170 in fines, surcharge and costs, attend the East Sussex Drug and Alcohol Service for 12 days and attend meetings as directed by his responsible officer for 12 months.

He pleaded guilty to intentional causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress over the incident at Spar in Seaside Road, Eastbourne on March 13. He was sentenced at Hastings Magistrates' Court.

Sergeant Peter Allan said: “The victim was merely making a responsible decision in relation to the sale of tobacco related products he believed was for the use of an under aged girl and was racially abused for this.”

Hate crime can be reported to police by calling 101.