A yob who terrorised his next door neighbours with racist abuse has been jailed for nine months.

Aaron Stoddard, 20, racially abused Sahida Khan and Mohammed Imran, threatened to kill them and torch their home and stood on a wall between the two properties, holding an axe.

Stoddard admitted racially aggravated fear of violence and damage in Haslingden in March. He also pleaded guilty to driving whilst disqualified.

Sentencing, Judge Jonathan Woolman told the defendant, now of Willows Lane, Accrington, that the victims must have been very frightened.

He added that it was clear Stoddard had had a very difficult life, including the tragic losses of his mother and brother and he had "run wild," and got in with the wrong crowd.

The judge went on:"These offences are so serious that I ought to impose the proper sentence and let the good work continue in Lancaster Farms young offender's institution for the time being." Stoddard was also banned from driving for 12 months.

Karl Berry, prosecuting, told the court the offences took place when Stoddard lived next door to the victims in Sunnybank Street, Haslingden.

Mrs Khan was in her kitchen when the defendant verbally abused her. She told her husband and he confronted Stoddard. The defendant was in his back yard tinkering with a motorcycle and Mr Imran asked him why he was harassing his wife. Stoddard replied with abuse and started making monkey noises, the court was told.

Mr Berry said Stoddard then threatened to kill the victim and when the couple went back inside their home, the defendant hurled more abuse and threatened to torch their home. Mrs Khan called the police, something hit their back door and Stoddard then stood on the wall with an axe, Mr Berry said.

The prosecutor said that the defendant then spat at the victims' kitchen window and shouted: "Us Accy boys never give up." He then smashed a window with the axe, causing glass to go into the kitchen and hallway of their home.

Mr Berry said Stoddard, who had 21 previous convictions, shouted :"Take that. You don't mess with me,"and then goaded Mr Imran, saying :"Come on, come on."

The prosecutor said Mr Imran went to confront the defendant and the defendant told him to go back to Pakistan, in a mocking Asian accent. Stoddard got a long, black rod and smashed his own windows, continued with the abuse and said he would fight with him and kill him.

Mark Stuart, defending, said Stoddard came from an "incredibly desperate background," and needed bereavement counselling.