Racist youths hurl beer bottles at dad

By dknapper

A DELIVERY driver has told how he was pelted with beer bottles by a gang of 15 yobs in a racist attack.

Zahid Zanan was targeted by the youths as he returned to the Chesterton takeaway where he works.

They threw beer bottles as Mr Zanan ran from his car into the Top Chef takeaway, in Birch House Road.

The 34-year-old father-of-five said: "I have never been the victim of a racial attack before. I think they must have been drinking.

"They were shouting 'Paki' at me and said if I got out of the car they would hit me."

Now Mr Zanan, who escaped unscathed from the ordeal before calling police, says he feels afraid to leave his Smallthorne home.

He said: "I don't know why I was targeted, all I wanted to do was go out and earn some money to support my family.

"I don't want to use the car I was in again in case they see me. It has beer stains and boot marks all over it, with dents where they threw the bottles.

"It's left me feeling like a prisoner in my own home, I don't feel safe any more."

Mr Zanan has told police he was targeted by a group of lads in their late teens and early 20s between 8.30pm and 9.30pm on Friday.

His partner, Elizabeth Smith, aged 23, says she has felt more intimidated since the English Defence League's (EDL) protest in Hanley in January.

Ms Smith, who has two children with Mr Zanan, said: "The incident involving Zahid has left me feeling really angry.

"I think it's a knock-on effect from the EDL demonstrations last month. It seems people now think it's acceptable to behave however they want.

"We are a mixed-race couple who have been together eight years and haven't experienced many problems."

A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: "Police were called to the incident on Friday evening where a man was arrested.

"However, due to insufficient evidence he was later released without charge."