A victim of an alleged racist attack in Ipswich was felled by a karate style flying kick from one of his attackers, a court was told.Kevin Morrison said that he had been subjected to a torrent of racial abuse before being punched and kicked to the ground.

By Victoria Knowles

A victim of an alleged racist attack in Ipswich was felled by a karate style flying kick from one of his attackers, a court was told.

Kevin Morrison said that he had been subjected to a torrent of racial abuse before being punched and kicked to the ground.

Lulzim Deda, 28, and Bujar Gashi, 22, are both on trial at South East Suffolk Magistrates Court charged with assault and racially aggravated assault.

It is alleged that Gashi, shouted racial abuse at Mr Morrison, and that they both went on to assault him as he left Chicago Rock Café in Ipswich on November 2.

Both men have pleaded not guilty to the offences.

Gashi, of London Road South Lowestoft, and Deda, of St Francis Tower, Ipswich were accompanied in court by a Kosovan speaking interpreter.

Mr Morrison, 38, told the court that he had been out with friends enjoying a drink when he was attacked.

"I was having a very pleasant evening and the atmosphere was good.

"I remember standing just outside the venue talking to the doormen. We went across the road and that is when I heard someone shout out. We stopped and looked across the road and I saw one of the defendants in the doorway.

"The person that shouted at me came across the road and behind me. He continued to shout really aggressive abuse at me," he said.

Prosecutor Jo Bradbury asked Mr Morrison to tell the court what the person looked like. At which point he pointed to Gashi and said it was him.

"He was trying to jab at me and I was asking him what his problem was. My friends pushed him away and then the other man (Deda) came across the road. He jumped in the air and directed a karate kick at me. I caught his leg and pushed him back. The other man then ran at me again and forced me across the road. He then rained heavy blows on me.

"I felt a hard kick to my left temple. I looked up and saw the other man (Deda) standing over me."

Defending Gashi, Saqib Rauf confronted Mr Morrison with his statement and said it was a "tissue of lies".

"I suggest you were drinking a lot more than you said in your statement and that you were aggressive by the end of the night."

Mr Morrison replied that he was not an aggressive man.

Mr Rauf continued: "You started making comments about Mr Gashi's wife's breasts and the low cut dress she was wearing. You did not say, "what is your problem", instead you told Mr Gashi it was none of his business."

Mr Morrison replied: "I never even knew it was his wife until you just told me. I never made any comments about her."

The trial continues.