A RACIST thug has been sent to prison after being found guilty of several violent crimes he committed over a seven-month period.

Blackpool magistrates’ court heard how Marcelli Grzegorz Hankiewicz, 25, had racially abused a member of the public, assaulted two police officers, attempted to steal from a shop, carried an offensive weapon and been drunk and disorderly between August 2020 and May 2021.

Hankiewicz, of Downham Street, Blackburn, on August 12, 2020, when he racially abused an unnamed victim with the intention of causing harassment, alarm and distress.

He was said to have a ‘flagrant disregard for people and their property’ and that his actions were ‘both racially and religiously aggravated’.

On April 8, 2021, Hankiewicz was drunk and disorderly at Yew Tree Drive, Blackburn, an incident that PC John McKee, of Lancashire Police, attended.

Hankiewicz spat at the officer in an ‘unprovoked attack’ amid the Covid-19 pandemic, putting the officer at an increased risk of contracting the virus.

Three weeks later, Hankiewicz was again drunk and disorderly, this time at Blacksnape Road, Darwen, and was found to be in possession of a lock-knife. He was fined £156 and has until December 15 to pay in full.

On May 21, 2021, Hankiewicz attempted to steal two bottles of wine from Wensley Road Mini Market, Blackburn.

He was confronted by the shopkeeper, Ifteqar Khan, who Hankiewicz proceeded to ‘punch repeatedly’ while attempting to make off with the wine.

PC Joshua Hegarty responded to the incident and was headbutted by Hankiewicz in a ‘serious’ assault.

Hankiewicz pleaded not guilty to all the charges brought against him but was found guilty and sentenced to a total of 12-months in prison.

He was sentenced without a pre-sentence report as he refused to engage with probation to prepare the report.