A MIXED race man who has been the victim of abuse because of his ethnicity is struggling to understand why he subjected two Muslims to a drunken racist attack.

Zahid Ali and his girlfriend were walking along Hereford’s Commercial Street when he was punched in his face and stomach by Jonathan James Evans.

Despite being warned at an earlier hearing that he may face a jail term, Evans, 28, of Quicksetts, Redhill, Hereford, was ordered to pay £1,280, given a community order and placed on a curfew by city magistrates.

He had previously been found guilty in his absence of two charges of racially aggravated common assault.

Leslie Ashton, prosecuting, told the court last week the July 17 attack attack had a ‘significant impact’ on the victims. Evans, who was with three other men, approached Mr Ali’s girlfriend and said “there is a bull statue up the road you can pray there”. He then added: “It’s not your country.”

Mr Ali told him to leave her alone, to which Evans said “you want to be brave with me?”

He then pushed Mr Ali before punching him in the mouth and chest. Nearby door staff attended and Evans ran off before being arrested later.

Mr Ali, who had moved to Hereford just two months before to work as a mechanic, said: “I hadn’t experienced a problem with anybody.

“The incident has affected how I feel about Hereford and has really knocked my confidence. I’m frightened to go out alone and don’t at night. What is worse is that it was racially motivated.”

His partner added that the unprovoked attack was due to her being a British Pakistani Muslim.

Chris Reid, mitigating, described Evans as very drunk.

“Evans is a man who has never behaved in this way before and who has suffered abuse of this type repeatedly in his early years because of his own ethnicity,” said Mr Reid

“He’s from a mixed race background and is struggling to come to terms with what has happened. He can’t remember saying it and finds it impossible to accept, but he clearly did.”

Evans must complete a 12-month community order with 20 days rehabilitation and 120 hours unpaid work. He was also given a three-month 7pm to 6am curfew, and must pay £200 to Mr Ali, £200 to his girlfriend, a £200 fine, £620 costs and a £60 surcharge.