Racist yob threatened Polish neighbours with a knife after BBQ at their home in Leeds

A racist who threatened his Polish neighbours with a knife has escaped jail.

Appearing before Leeds Crown Court on Monday, Anthony Lewis pleaded guilty to five offences including possession of and threats with a bladed article, and racially aggravated behaviour causing harassment, alarm or distress.

Prosecutor Joel Wootten told the court how, on March 22 of this year, Lewis’ Polish neighbours had been hosting a BBQ at their home in Leeds when he began shouting from his garden at their dog, claiming that it was causing distress to his.

The 48-year-old then began hurling racially motivated abuse at the young family, stating that “England is for the English,” before sliding his finger across his throat.

Lewis, of no fixed abode, was then captured on mobile phone footage exiting his house brandishing a knife and cleaver, and made a threat to kill.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, his neighbours detailed how they have had trouble sleeping since the incident and are now “scared of going out.”

Defence counsel Martin Morrow told the court that his client has been in prison since the incident in March and had the benefit of a “supportive, loving and caring family.”

He said that Lewis had a very real chance of successfully reintegrating back into the community.

Opting against an immediate custodial order, Judge Robin Mairs instead handed the defendant a two year sentence, suspended for two years, plus 25 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement Days and 240 hours of unpaid work.

“You must understand that this is a solitary opportunity and if you breach this order then I will have no option but to send you back to prison,” Judge Mairs added.