THREE racist thugs have been jailed after their victims turned the tables on them.

Ryan Sweeney, Ross Smith and Christopher Ledger told two afro-Caribbean men they should "get back to their own country" before turning on a mixed-race passenger travelling alone on the Tyne and Wear Metro.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that the afro-Caribbean men, who have never been identified, responded to the barrage of hate by assaulting the men.

Ian Graham, prosecuting, said: "The two black men tried to move away from them, and when the train reached Jarrow, they were preparing to actually leave the train. It was at that point one of the defendants threw a punch towards them. It actually proved to be a rather foolish thing.

"The men came back on the train and proceeded to set about the defendants and very clearly got the better of them.

"In the course of all this, the gentleman who was of mixed race became involved."

The court heard how Sweeney, 20, of Bentinck Road, Cruddas Park, Newcastle, suffered a broken jaw.

Sweeney and Smith, 19, of Horton Park, Cruddas Park, pleaded guilty to affray on the basis they did not throw punches. Ledger, 21, of Brunel Terrace, Cruddas Park, also admitted affray.

Robert Adams, in mitigation, said all three were aware their actions were wrong.

The judge sentenced Ledger, who pleaded guilty at an early stage, to 12 months behind bars.

He sentenced Smith and Sweeney to 15 months in jail.