A man shouted racist abuse at a family and spat at a woman in the group while they were shopping in Bridport town centre, a court heard.

Daniel Joseph Lavery, 39, also threw crisps at them while swearing and telling them they "should not be here".

His outburst - in front of shocked onlookers - came as the family left Waitrose in West Street on the afternoon of Friday, September 11, 2020.

Lavery will be sentenced for the offences later this month.

Prosecuting, Andrew Newman, told Weymouth Magistrates Court Lavery approached them and asked, “What are you doing here?" and also used obscene language called the group "illegal immigrants".

Mr Newman said Lavery got very close to the face of a woman in the group, spitting at her while throwing handfuls of Pringles at her.

The court heard that there were a number of people in the area at the time who heard the abusive language, and that onlookers were muttering and shaking their head at Lavery’s behaviour.

A statement from one witness said she saw Lavery spit Pringles at the family and heard him swear and tell them to “go back to your country”.

The court heard that a security guard who called the police, responded to Lavery saying, “they live here, mate.”

Lavery left the area and was followed by the security guard. Police then arrived and arrested Lavery.

In a report of the incident last year, the Bridport News reported that police made the arrest in Bucky Doo Square.

A statement from a member of the group who were targeted described the "shock" and "confusion" of the event.

They added: “If something like that happens to you it changes what you think about people.”

Following the incident last year, the News reported that community leaders were shocked by the incident.

Bridport mayor Cllr Ian Bark said at the time: “I was shocked to hear that there had been a racially motivated attack. Bridport is better than this. We are a rights respecting town where all are welcome and respected.”

Lavery of South Walk, Bridport, admitted two charges of using threatening, abusive, insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of or provoke unlawful violence, one of which was racially aggravated.

Ian Brazier, mitigating, told the court that at the time of the altercation Lavery had been drinking alcohol.

He said that Lavery had been drinking for a few days after a friend had died that week.

He said that Lavery’s drinking was more of a problem then than it is now and that his progress since had been “quite considerable”.

Magistrates called for an updated report on Lavery from the Probation Service and they adjourned the case.

Lavery will be sentenced at the same court on Thursday, March 25.