A MAN who admitted racially abusing a black policeman is to be sent on behaviour training courses over the next three years.

Teesside Crown Court heard Lawrence Sannick, 59, threatened to train his dog to attack black people when he was arrested by Cleveland PC Ahmed Sah.

The officer had been called to the Emporium pub, in Hartlepool, where Sannick was drunk and had been barred by the landlord, said John Gillette, prosecuting.

Mr Gillette said Sannick had threatened Mr Sah in the van and at the station. He told the officer he would train his dog to hate black policemen, and added: "By the time he had finished with the dog, it would eat the officer."

Sannick said that he had his own law and he was unconcerned about the British law.

He had convictions going back 50 years for drink related offences and breaches of Public Order Acts.

Jamie Hill, mitigating, said that Sannick suffered from osteo arthritis and he was in considerable pain when PC Sah handcuffed him. A pre-sentence report said that Sannick accept that his behaviour must change.

Judge Tony Briggs told him: "The officer deserves a good deal of credit for his restraint in dealing with you.

"There is certainly a lot to be said for showing that conduct of this kind will be met with immediate imprisonment, but you have health problems. If we have to meet again, that mistake will be put right by sending you away."

Sannick, of Kinbrace Road, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to causing racially aggravated fear or provocation of violence on April 19.

He was sentenced to a three-year Community Rehabilitation Order, which will include training courses run by the Probation Service.