A SUFFOLK resident jailed for racially abusing his Scottish neighbour has had his appeal bid dismissed.

Laurence Cawley

A SUFFOLK resident jailed for racially abusing his Scottish neighbour has had his appeal bid dismissed.

Walter Green, 57, was last month jailed for 16 weeks by magistrates in Bury St Edmunds for twice breaching a restraining order under the 1997 Racial Harassment Act by abusing Dunfermline-born Ian Wilson.

Green, of Thedwastre Close in Elmswell, denied the offence, but was found guilty in his absence.

Green lodged an appeal against the jail term but last week his appeal was dismissed at Ipswich Crown Court.

The case related to incidents earlier this year in which Green shouted abuse at Mr Wilson. On one occasion he told Mr Wilson to “f**k off back to Scotland” and on another occasion - while Mr Wilson was having a cigarette in his kitchen in July - Green is understood to have said “go home before you die”.

Green was originally jailed for 30 weeks back in 2007 after he admitted racially harassing Mr Wilson's wife Anita, a Philippines-born 52-year-old.

As part of his sentence he was given the order banning from any contact with the couple and warned that he could be jailed again if he abused either of them any more.

Green's appeal was dismissed last week by Judge Roderick Newton, who sat to hear the case with two magistrates by his side.

He told the court the sentence handed down to Green had been correct given his previous history of offending.

It is understood Mid Suffolk District Council has been urged to move Green out of his council bungalow when he is released from prison.

Mr Wilson is understood to have been pleased by the judge's verdict but was yesterday unavailable for comment.