A teenager kicked a police dog in the head as a racist mob attacked foreign workers.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, lashed out at the German Shepherd in an alcohol-fuelled frenzy during the race riot.

More than 50 people were involved in the violence outside the Tower Club, now the Coco Lounge, on the junction of Clifton Road and Arcade Road in Littlehampton.

Worthing Magistrates' Court was told that police received a call from a bystander saying that a group of about 20 men left the Spotted Cow pub in the town armed with bottles saying they were going to "fight some Russians."

Officers intercepted the group outside the Tower Club where fighting broke out.

The 17-year-old was on his way home when he walked into the riot at 2am on January 27 and attacked a police dog.

Sergeant Adrian Webb, who arrested him, told the court: "The teenager ran up and kicked the dog in the head. It was a football type kick. The dog bit him. I didn't take my eyes off him and pushed him to the ground. After that the police dog bit him a second time."

The 17-year-old claimed he ran through the melee to reach his brother. He denied kicking the police dog, saying it attacked him, bit his ankle and thigh and knocked him to the ground.

But he was convicted of resisting a police officer and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and was ordered to pay £200 in costs and a £200 fine.

The court was also told how Luke Hopkins, 19, waded into the trouble after walking out of the Tower Club following a drinking binge.

PC Mark Brett told the court how the apprentice mechanic, of Thorncroft Road, Littlehampton, hurled a bottle at a police van as the officer drove into Clifton Road in the town.

He said: "A male jumped in front of the van with his arm raised. A split second later a bottle flew through the air and there was a loud crash at the front of the van.

"It missed the windscreen and hit the bonnet of the van."

PC Yahya Aslam told the court he saw Hopkins fighting before the bottle-throwing incident.

He said: "He was throwing a punch at someone and pulling at someone's jacket.

"I saw him being chased towards my direction. I pursued him and shouted, '"Police, stop'. He didn't stop. I shouted, 'Police dog, stop' and he stopped."

Hopkins denied throwing the bottle and claimed he was struck by an Eastern European man who he attempted to hit but missed. But he was convicted of threatening behaviour.

He said: "I didn't throw anything apart from a punch which missed."

District Judge Roger Ede fined Hopkins £200 and ordered him to pay an additional £200 in costs. He said about both defendants: "There's no doubt this was a serious disturbance fuelled by alcohol.

"I'm shocked at the way in which you both described drinking eight or nine pints as not being out of the ordinary or very drunk. It shows how much alcohol young people drink and how drink gets people into trouble."