A 26-year-old Gloucester man who unleashed a racially aggravated assault on a takeaway worker and a customer - and then kicked and spat at police officers - has walked free from court because he has already spent eight-months behind bars while on remand.

Prosecutor Ellen McAnaw told Gloucester Crown Court on Friday (December 2) that on March 6, 2022, Avinash Pogula, a takeaway shop member of staff in Eastgate Street, saw Matthew Stott-Ingram enter the premises at 7.15pm.

The prosecutor said: "He knew of him because he would regularly ask for food because he had been homeless."

"But on this occasion Mr Pogula observed that Stott-Ingram was drunk and slurring his words.

"Stott-Ingram ordered some food and tried to pay with a bank card, but it was declined. Mr Pogula explained to him that this has happened and said that he needed to find another way to pay for the food.

"Stott-Ingram then proceeded to swear at Mr Pogula and embarked on a racist rant using the word 'immigrant' on numerous occasions.

"At this point Stott-Ingram proceeded to get violent and threw a bottle overarm towards Mr Pogula, but this missed him and smashed on the floor.

"Stott-Ingram then launched himself over the counter and threw a punch with full force, at Mr Pogula's face.

"Stott-Ingram then left the shop shouting 'I shall see you around. I shall be waiting outside when you leave, and I will kick your arse.'

"Within seconds Stott-Ingram returned to the shop and approached Gareth Wiggett, who had just entered the takeaway, and told him 'That immigrant, he's dead'.

Mr Wiggett tried to diffuse the situation, but Stott-Ingram hit him over the head with another glass bottle. The bottle did not shatter."

The court was told that when police attended the scene, PC Gilbert attempted to arrest Stott-Ingram, who became violent. He was warned that he would be sprayed with Pava.

Stott-Ingram claimed that he had knife on him and would stab the officers. He refused to be searched before he was put into the police van.

The prosecutor added: "The officers used significant force against Stott-Ingram as he began kicking out and spitting at them with the spittle connecting with PC Parsons.

"Stott-Ingram's legs were then placed in restraints and a search was carried out, but no knife was found in his procession."

Stott-Ingram of Matson Lane, Gloucester, denied when interviewed that he had racially assaulting Mr Pogula or assaulted PCs Gilbert and Parsons.

Catherine Flint, defending, told the court "The man who stands in the dock today is unrecognisable from his appearance in court earlier this year.

"He was drinking very heavily at the time and had become very drunk when the offending occurred. He was also suffering from undiagnosed trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder.

"Stott-Ingram's memory of the events is somewhat hazy. He does accept that it was him. He is very ashamed by the racist language he used towards Mr Pogula and had previously got on very well with him.

"Stott-Ingram has since apologised to one of the arresting officers for his behaviour. He has been sober for the past eight months and has since been signed off from Change Grow Live, the substance misuse organisation in Gloucester.

"He has also volunteered to work as a landscape gardener, which he finds very rewarding. He still has unresolved issues, and a mental health treatment requirement programme is planned. He is keen to take up this offer. "

Stott-Ingram pleaded guilty to the racially aggravated assault of Mr Pogula on March 6, 2022 and attempting to cause actual bodily harm to Gareth Wiggett on the same date. He also admitted assaulting emergency workers PC Parsons and PC Gilbert by beating on the same occasion.

Judge Michael Cullum told Stott-Ingram: "On March 6, 2022, you acted in a wholly disgraceful way. You acted in a way that may not have been out of character then, but appears to be different to the way in which you have started to lead your life.

"That's because you have made efforts to leave alcohol abuse behind you. Additionally, you now have new responsibilities. I acknowledge that you have already served seven months in prison and have spent a long time on an electronic tag, which reduces your sentence further.

"This means you have already served any sentence that would be imposed today. The offences were serious, but nobody was significantly injured, despite you assaulting four people, including two police officers.

"However, it is disconcerting that you used racist language to the takeaway shop assistant and were throwing things at him. You have no idea of his background. Your language was aimed at being racially aggravated. It would have been designed to hurt him.

"And combined with the offences against the police officers, an eight-month custodial sentence has to be passed. However, as you have already served this on remand you will be formally released later today."