A MAN threw tomato ketchup covered chips across a kebab shop and said the trouble started because he was black, an Ipswich court heard.Darius Rowe, of Defoe Road, Ipswich, was moved on by police in Tavern Street after he was seen trying to calm down his friend who had been arguing.

A MAN threw tomato ketchup covered chips across a kebab shop and said the trouble started because he was black, an Ipswich court heard.

Darius Rowe, of Defoe Road, Ipswich, was moved on by police in Tavern Street after he was seen trying to calm down his friend who had been arguing.

South East Suffolk Magistrate's Court heard that a short while later Rowe went to Best Kebabs in Dogs Head Street.

Emma Lister, prosecuting, said the 24-year-old, was swearing and then he threw two trays of chips covered in tomato ketchup over a man called Darren Hill.

A special constable again told Rowe who had previous convictions to move on and he stated: “It was all because he was black,” said Ms Lister.

Rowe pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour on May 24.

Claire Hullock mitigating, said Rowe had a suspended prison sentence hanging over him for a similar previous offence at a burger van queue in Cardinal Park last year.

But she urged magistrates to give him another chance.

She said her client had accepted that he was swearing but had denied throwing the chips.

She said Rowe, a council house clearer had health problems and had been out of trouble for several months.

Magistrates told Rowe to carry out a total of 50 hours unpaid work but did not activate the suspended sentence because of his guilty plea and apology to the special constable.