Three British teenagers,who launched a series of racist attacks on an Indian-origin shopkeeper and creating violence in another shop here on June six,have been found guilty and face a jail sentence. The attacks were caught on CCTV camera as shopkeeper Ashok Selvam and his staff were subjected to a series of blows and punches within one hour. The three found guilty of the attacks at the Bristol magistrates court yesterday are twins Justin and Luke Lovedale,17,and Nicholas Gardener,17,who screamed racist abuse as they punched and kicked their victims. The CCTV footage was shown to the court and all three were found guilty of racially aggravated assault in both shops. In the first attack,the two twins - who were 16 at the time - punched and kicked a member of staff after they were refused vodka and cigarettes. They pulled Selvam's T-shirt over his head and then rained blows on him. District Judge David Parsons,who will pronounce their sentences on November 11,said: "Race hatred should be dealt with seriously by the court,and your victims deserve the protection of the court". One of the twins held Selvam in a headlock as the other punched him in his face as they screamed racist abuse at him. Less than an hour later,the three teenagers went to another shop,where violence flared after one of the twins tried to snatch a bottle of wine. Shopkeeper Parakram Zala was punched in the face by Gardener as he tried to call the police. As Zala's colleague Girish Patel came to his rescue,all three defendants hit him. Patel's left eye was badly injured. Ian Jackson,prosecuting lawyer,described the incidents as "sustained and frenzied attacks". Throughout the three-day trial,the thugs sat yawning and sighing in the dock,chatting to each other and laughing. All three pleaded guilty to assault and criminal damage,but denied it was racially aggravated. Gardener was remanded in custody,and the twins were released on conditional bail.
