A FIREFIGHTER was attacked as he headed out to pick up some food for a family party to celebrate the Muslim festival Eid.

Robert Green, 56, punched his neighbour Ajmal Khan in the face and held him to the ground with his hands around his throat during an attack in Chalfont Road, Colchester.

Green stood in front of Mr Khan’s car and when he got out Green attacked him.

Mr Khan, 54, who also served as a firefighter in the RAF in the Falklands, said: “He just punched me in my jaw.

“It took me back a little bit because I wasn’t expecting it.

“He jumped on me and started pushing me to the ground. He was on top of me. He had his hands on my throat and was threatening to kill me.”

During the attack, Mr Khan said Green also used several racist words.

Dad-of-three Mr Khan has been a firefighter for 25 years and is now a fire officer in Ipswich. He started off in the RAF’s fire service in 1978, and served in the RAF in the Falklands during the conflict in 1982.

He said: “I’ve been living in this country since I was eight years old.

“When I first came I couldn’t speak English.

“I have served in the forces and represented my country and I now represent my community.

“He knows I’m in the forces. It is disheartening. I have probably done a lot more for this country than some other people have done.”

Mr Khan was taken to Colchester General Hospital by ambulance and was left with a bleeding lip, whiplash and a hand injury following the attack, at 1pm on July 17.

His family were unable to celebrate Eid that evening because of the incident.

Mr Khan lives opposite Green and said he has had a number of difficulties with him in the past.

Mr Khan’s family has a restraining order against Green, which was put in place in 2014 after another incident.

On August 4. Green admitted assault by beating, demonstrating hostility based on his victim’s race, and breaking the restraining order at Chelmsford Crown Court.

He was given two three-month prison sentences and must pay £300 compensation.