A 52-year-old man from Crawley was jailed for four months after shouting racist abuse at a mother and her son.

Peter Haynes started the abuse on a bus and continued after the mother and son had got off at Gatwick airport, a court heard.

Haynes, of Rickfields, Gossops Green, appeared for sentencing before Crawley magistrates after earlier admitting causing aggravated harassment, alarm or distress in October 2.

Dervil Rowland, prosecuting, explained that the victim, who is married to an African, was travelling with their three-year-old son when Haynes began his tirade.

The racist abuse and insults directed at both the mother and the little boy continued when they all left the bus as Gatwick.

Haynes was recognised and traced by police later.

He also admitted theft, three counts of assault, theft and using threatening words or behaviour in Crawley in April and June and being in breach of a conditional discharge imposed for similar offences.

Mark Barrel defending said: "His offending behaviour is caused by depression because of his shattered life.

"He has a drink problem. He resorted to alcohol after losing both his wife and his business.

"There is a reaction with the alcohol and his medication."

Jailing Haynes for four months, stipendiary magistrate Paul Tain said he took into account the punishment would be more severe.

"Anyone who is convicted of racial aggravation can expect a substantial sentence", he said.