Christopher Barber, 32, shouted racist insults and abuse at Tunisian-born Ramzi Yahyaoui and his two Chinese friends as they were walking along Newcastle's Quayside on December 23 last year.

When the group stopped, Barber and a friend attacked Mr Yahyaoui with a broken pool cue, Newcastle Crown Court was told.

And when Mr Yahyaoui, a Northumbria University student, fell to the ground after being hit over the head with a glass bottle, Barber continued punching and kicking his victim, the court heard.

He then fled but was arrested nearby. He denied taking part in the attack but was picked out in an identity parade.

Barber, of Clifton Gardens, North Shields, went on to admit racially aggravated assault, affray and possessing an offensive weapon when he appeared at Newcastle Crown Court.

Jailing him for two years, Judge Michael Cartlidge said Mr Yahyaoui had feared for his life.

"The victim has been left with an unfortunate impression of what life in this country his like," said Judge Cartlidge.

Mr Yahyaoui was taken to hospital and received treatment for lacerations to his head, bruises and facial injuries.

Barber, who has a previous robbery conviction against two 14-year-olds, also admitted a separate attack on a lift operative.

Barber had assaulted the man in an unprovoked attack with a hockey stick.

Tony Davis, defending Barber, said his client suffers from attention deficit syndrome and had a drugs problem.