A man convicted of racially abusing his neighbour has been ordered to pay his victim compensation.

Antonio Cocca, 63, of Jeffreys Road, Tye Green, Cressing, had denied harassing Fitzroy Gordon and the racially aggravated use of threatening words or behaviour but was convicted of both offences by magistrates on February 8 following a trial.

He appeared before magistrates in Chelmsford yesterday for sentencing and received a 12-month conditional discharge, was ordered to pay Mr Gordon £300 compensation and made the subject of a restraining order banning him from contact with Mr Gordon or entering the curtailage of his house.

Fiona Hardman, prosecuting, said last year Cocca had become embroiled in a boundary dispute with Mr Gordon, his nextdoor neighbour.

She told the court that on July 20, CCTV footage revealed Cocca walking over to where Mr Gordon was painting a boundary fence and making a kicking motion towards him.

Mr Gordon also complained that he had seen Cocca pointing what he thought was his shotgun or gun case at him.

Miss Hardman said Mr Gordon maintained that on July 23 Cocca made offensive racial remarks to him.

Peter Butterfield, defending, said Cocca maintained his innocence but accepted that the court must pass sentence.

He said relations between the men had deteriorated because of a fence Mr Gordon had erected, and that Cocca had since put his house on the market and planned to move back to Italy because he felt he could not afford another house in this country.

Chairman of the bench David Boyle said: "The offences in themselves merited a community penalty, however there is no community penalty appropriate for you.

"Therefore we are dealing with you leniently."

Published Tuesday, March 5, 2002