A MAN has ended up in court after sending his Asian neighbours an abusive letter referring to the BNP.

Stoke-on-Trent Magistrates Court ruled the letter sent by Anthony Johnson to his next-door neighbours was not racially motivated.

The court also rejected an application for a restraining order, preventing him from approaching the Khan family, who have been Johnson's neighbours for the last five years.

But the 63-year-old, of Greengates Street, Tunstall, was handed a 12-month community order and supervision for a year, after magistrates said the letter was insulting.

Prosecutor Lynne Warrington told the court a letter was sent to the Khan family on May 17. She said: "It contained a number of newspaper articles relating to Asian suspects arrested by police.

"The letter refers to a member of the Khan family calling Johnson a paedophile, which was not the case.

"The contents of the letter are hurtful to the Khan family. They have been targeted due to their background. One of the articles was from 2006 and related to the BNP leader. Johnson said he had kept the articles in case he needed them."

Mitigating, solicitor Rob Holt said: "Johnson has lived at this address for eight years, the Khan family have been there for five years.

"This is the only incident of any dispute which has been reported to the police during that time.

"I understand there's a denial from the Khan family that they have made any comment. He believes they did make a comment and he reacted in this way.

"The view is that he was acting in some sort of self defence. He has retaliated on the basis that he was called a name, so he fired back.

"It is not sophisticated in any way, shape or form and his address is on the letter, so he has not tried to hide.

"I believe, having spoken to him, he does not think what he has done is racist. That is a matter of opinion.

"Something has happened which has precipitated a reaction which has led to him sending this unpleasant and unsavoury information.

"He is unable to express his feelings properly and appropriately and this is clearly an inappropriate reaction.

"He has reacted appallingly and he expresses remorse to the court and the family."

Johnson admitted sending an offensive letter for the purpose of causing distress.

Sentencing Johnson, bench chairman Diane Coates told him: "We do not find that you committed this offence with racial motivation."

Johnson was ordered to pay £85 costs.

Speaking after the verdict, Johnson's neighbour, Mohammed Khan, aged 52, said: "He's an old man. I don't take any notice.

"He said I had thrown rubbish and our children were noisy. I said I didn't throw any rubbish and there are other children on the street who play outside.

"No-one called him any names. I don't think the letter was racist."