A man has escaped jail by “a whisker” after launching a string of race-hate attacks on his neighbours in a Sandwell street.

Paul Cook has been taken to court five times in 12 years after confrontations with Rajinder Bansal and his family who live next door in Rayford Drive, West Bromwich. The latest trouble came in September last year when the 38-year-old appeared at their window shouting racial abuse, a hearing at Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

He also knocked at the door demanding to be let in while holding a six inch blade kitchen knife, said prosecutor Mr Howard Searle.

Cook, who has lived in his home with his father for 30 years, was told to go away but returned soon afterwards to hurl two bricks through the window causing £200 damage, the court was told. He was arrested and police bailed to allow further inquiries, but struck again just nine days later while 47-year-old father of three Mr Bansal, who has lived next door with his family for 21 years, was overseeing repairs to the damage.

He was racially abusive to his neighbour as he walked past the front path to his home, added Mr Searle.

Cook was convicted of assaulting Mr Bansal in January 1996. Three years later he was found guilty of threatening behaviour and further convictions for racially aggravated behaviour followed in 2001 and 2004.

He had denied the latest offences but was convicted of criminal damage, racially abusive behaviour and possession of an offensive weapon after a magistrates court trial in his absence and had been remanded on bail to the crown court for sentence.

Recorder Nicholas Syfret gave him a 12 month jail sentence suspended for two years with 18 months supervision and ordered him to attend an anger management course.

He told Cook: “You have come within a whisker of going to prison for the first time. You say you see nothing wrong in using racially abusive language and do not think that it causes offence.

“It is time that you realised racially abusive behaviour will not be tolerated. It causes individual distress and ferments social disorder. You are getting your last chance. Take it.”