A prolific shoplifter who racially abused and slapped a restaurant worker has been banned from Canterbury city centre.

Kieron Carter, of no fixed address, refused to leave the outside seating area of a restaurant near the high street despite not having ordered anything.

When a member of staff asked him to move on, he made racist comments and attempted to headbutt the victim, before slapping him.

Police built a case against Carter following the incident in July, and a series of thefts from Tesco Express in New Dover Road between July and September.

The 29-year-old appeared before Folkestone Magistrates' Court yesterday where he admitted racially aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and 12 counts of theft.

He was jailed for a year and a criminal behaviour order was imposed stopping him from entering the city centre for two years once he has been released.

A restraining order was also imposed preventing him from going into the supermarket for two years.

Inspector Paul Stoner, of Canterbury's Community Safety Unit, said: “My officers are determined to protect Canterbury's businesses and their staff from repeat offenders like Carter.

“I hope the jail term imposed following this investigation, and the court orders we were granted, give traders some peace of mind.

“We will continue working to bring offenders of this kind to justice and take robust action whenever appropriate.”