A COMPUTER programmer has admitted racially abusing white people.

Eston Maigurira, from Zimbabwe, flew into a rage after he was told that a Coral bookmakers was closing for the night when he was on a winning streak on a roulette bandit.

Maigurira, 29, a graduate of a US university, shouted at the cashier: "You're... white trash, Britain is full of scum." He insulted the office manageress and told a punter: "You British, you're all racists" and shouted at people in the street.

Ian Bradshaw, prosecuting, said the 25-minute incident was caught on security camera, including Maigurira's arrest by two police officers, who put him into a van.

Maigurira called a female officer a "white bitch" during the drive to the nearby Stockton police station, Middlesbrough magistrates were told.

Graham Silvester, in mitigation, said Maigurira was not a racist and that he was ashamed and wanted to apologise to everyone he had insulted.

He came to the UK from the US with an electronic engineering degree from West Virginia and worked in a Citizens Advice Bureau in Blackburn, Lancashire.

He started a master's degree at Bournemouth University before he ran out of funds, and had to support himself on winnings from roulette machines.

Maigurira, of Norton Road, Stockton, admitted using racially aggravated threats, abusive and insulting words and behaviour on 16 July. He was bailed until next month, with a condition banning him from the bookmakers.