'We're ISIS and we'll destroy you': Thug jailed for racist assault

Craig Nandi made the claims to two innocent bystanders in a pair of separate incidents last year. On one of the occasions, outside Walsall railway station, the 34-year-old then attacked his victim with a metal pole he found on the floor.

He was jailed for 16 months at Wolverhampton Crown Court after pleading guilty to a racially aggravated assault, possession of a class B drug, possession of an offensive weapon and religiously aggravated provocation of violence.

The court heard how Nandi accosted a black man outside the station on August 4, saying 'Do you know who we are? We're Isis, and we'll destroy you' before attacking him.

Then a month later, while on police bail, he targeted the Royal Car Wash in Bloxwich in a religiously aggravated incident.

On the railway station attack, Judge Andrew Lockhart QC said Nandi, of Field Road, Dudley, had 'plainly targeted' his victim by his 'personal membership of a racial group' and attacked him with the metal pole. After he was later arrested Nandi was found in possession of the metal pole and a quantity of cannabis.

Judge Lockhart said: "In interview you said it was just banter. But this was anything but banter. That word could never be used to describe this."

The judge added: "You used very frightening language and it would've had a impact on anybody – whatever faith they choose to follow."

At the car wash on September 2 Nandi collared an Asian employee and said: "You don't know who I am, I'm in Isis. I will bring down the EDL boys to get you."

He then threatened to return and burn down the car wash, as well as making comments about the worker's faith.

Mr Simon Williams, defending, said Nandi was 'remorseful'. It's clear that Mr Nandi's mouth has got him into a lot of problems in this period of time.

"Mr Nandi is a Muslim, so when you consider the case against him it's a very strange case indeed."

The judge said Nandi had an 'appalling record' of 32 convictions from 69 offences.

Nandi was sentenced to eight months for the racially aggravated assault, to run concurrently with eight months for possession of the weapon and one month for possession of the drugs. He was also sentenced to eight months to run consecutive for the religiously aggravated incident and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £100.