A MAN said to be a potential danger to ethnic minorities has escaped jail after a wrecking session at an Asian shopkeeper's property.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Ralph Sample, 41, had left his victim Afzal Malik and his family terrified and unable to sleep after an early-hours attack on his shop.

The defendant, who has never been in trouble before, was given a 12-month community rehabilitation order, even though a judge described the case as very disturbing.

Judge Beverley Lunt said Sample was potentially a danger to ethnic minorities, showing his anger at the Government or whatever else it may be. She added he was targeting ethnic minorities, which was a grave concern to the court and would ordinarily result in a lengthy jail term to protect the public.

But she said if the defendant went to prison, he would come out an even bigger danger and he needed treatment.

Judge Lunt added that she could take an exceptional course and a community rehabilitation order was the best way to protect the public and punish him. She made a 12 month order and told Sample he must attend the Burnley Mental Health Services day hospital when told to and he must receive and take treatment.

Judge Lunt went on: "Hopefully all this will be sorted out and then you and everybody else can get on with their lives."

The defendant, of Holgate Street, Harle Syke, Burnley, admitted racially aggravated damage.

Tim Ashmole, prosecuting, told the court that father-of-three Mr Malik was in bed last December when he heard shouting and swearing outside and banging on the bedroom window.

The defendant was in the street, shouting, 'Go home.' Sample then picked up a large stone and threw it through the shop door window.

Sample shouted, 'There is no democracy in this country. We want you out of here. Get back to where you came from.'

Another stone was flung through the window as the defendant repeated racist abuse.

Mr Ashmole said the victim's three children were extremely frightened by what happened and they and his wife had had trouble sleeping.

Martin Hackett, defending, said Sample's thinking was sometimes confused. The offence was out of character but it was conceded there was some more that needed to be looked at in the defendant's nature.