A judge has told a man who threatened three Sudanese burger bar workers with an imitation gun that he is a disgrace to Britain.

Rail worker Benjamin Rees, 33, burst into the take-away where the victims were working.

He told the three Coptic Christians they were illegal immigrants and to go back where they came from.

Rees had been drinking in a nearby pub before entering Sobs Burgers in Dyke Road, Brighton.

He shouted racial abuse and made threats to kill, pushed one and tried to assault another.

When they refused to serve him he left the shop and five minutes later returned with what turned out to be an imitation handgun.

He again threatened to kill the victims before fleeing.

Armed police responded and after inquiries by the Brighton and Hove police Anti Victimisation Unit (AVU), which tackles hate crime, Rees was arrested.

Rees, of West Hill Place, Brighton, pleaded guilty to firearms offences and was jailed for two-and-a-half years at Lewes Crown Court yesterday.

Judge Anthony Scott Gall said the threats were racially motivated. He told Rees: "You are a disgrace to your country."

Detective Constable Simon Cramp, of the AVU, said the incident on March 24 last year left the victims shocked and terrified.

One flew to Egypt, the religious home of his faith, and had to be persuaded to return for the hearing.

He said: "The victims are all professional men. One is an airport supervisor and all worked at the restaurant part-time. They are not illegal immigrants and are hard-working professionals.

"We will not tolerate incidents of this kind and any similar reports will be rigorously investigated."