A BALLINGRY man who hurled racial abuse at takeaway staff and assaulted boys who were waiting for their food has been jailed.

John Mullen, 31, of Navitie Park, went into Magic Wok in Cowdenbeath and shouted at workers in a mock Chinese accent and made monkey gestures before headbutting a teenager.

Appearing for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Wednesday, he had previously admitted that on November 30, at the Magic Wok in High Street, he acted in a racially aggravated course of conducted when he demanded money, shouted, swore, mocked the owner's Chinese accent, made offensive noises and gestures and uttered threats of violence.

He also assaulted a 15 year-old boy by pressing his head against his head, throwing food items at him and spitting at him while another 15 year-old was also assaulted when Mullen put his arm around his body, butted him on the head, causing his head to strike a wall, all to his injury.

Mullen also admitted an assault on a 14 year old when he threw a can of soft drink at him.

Depute-fiscal, Dev Kapadia, said Mullen appeared to be heavily intoxicated when he went into Magic Wok's premises, carrying bags containing food from a different takeaway.

He told a worker that he had missed the chips and curry sauce and demanded his money back for the food.

A group of boys was in the shop and he put his arm round one of them, and threw a chicken pakora at him and made a spitting gesture when asked to desist.

He then started speaking to staff in a mocking Chinese accent and making monkey gestures and sounds towards them.

He continued to act in a threatening and intimidating manner, pointing towards members of staff and saying he was going to "choke that c***" and then pointed at one of the boys and said he was going to choke him.

Mr Kapadia told the Court that one of the boys asked the man to calm down and that they hadn't done anything wrong.

He added: "He told the accused that he and his friends were only 15 years-old and the accused then headbutted him, causing his nose to bleed heavily and his head flew back and struck the wall behind him."

As Mullen was leaving the takeaway, he picked up a can of drink and threw it at one of the boys.

Mullen's defence solicitor said he couldn't really mitigate his client's behaviour.

He added: "He was clearly out of control through alcohol. He doesn't seek to shy away from his culpability."

Sheriff Robert McDonald said it was an "appalling episode" which included what he considered as unprovoked assaults on children.

"It is clear you require not only to be punished but the public requires to be protected," he said. "I am entirely satisfied that no community based disposal will be appropriate and that the only sentence is one of imprisonment."

He jailed Mullen for a total of six months.