A CARE home resident poured boiling water over a staff member and threw a plate at another in a racially motivated assault.

On March 24 last year, a care worker at a home in Colchester tried to use a hoover to clean up the mess caused by Leigh Bruty, 57, smashing plates on the floor.

Ipswich Crown Court heard Bruty grabbed the hoover and began to bang it against the floor.

The care worker decided to distance himself from Bruty, making his way into the kitchen to make some tea for some other residents.

But Bruty began to make threats, telling the care worker to "watch out for tomorrow".

The offender then picked up the kettle and poured its boiling contents down the care worker's side, causing him "extreme" pain.

The carer suffered second degree burns.

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Three days later, on March 27, Bruty was again smashing plates at the facility.

He shouted at another care worker, throwing a plate at him.

When staff later asked why he had targeted the care worker, Bruty replied: "Because he is black".

Bruty admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm, racially aggravated assault and racially aggravated criminal damage.

The offences were committed in breach of a conditional discharge, imposed after he punched another carer.

The court was told Bruty suffers with learning difficulties and has autism spectrum disorder.

Donal Lawler, mitigating, said: "It is quite an unusual case because in some ways one can question whether the criminal justice system is the place for someone with so many significant challenges.

"[Because of the law], he is criminally liable and he knows what he is doing, therefore here we are.

"He is a man with significant issues."

Turning to the first victim, Recorder Graham Huston said: "Quite deliberately, knowing exactly what you were doing, you picked up a kettle and you poured boiling water down his right side, which resulted in excruciating pain.

"The photos graphically depict his injuries and I hope you have seen them.

"They are appalling injuries.

"This is a particularly wicked offence and there's no doubt the custodial threshold has been crossed."

The court heard Bruty struggles to express his emotions and had endured a difficult time with "unknown" staff he was unfamiliar with, suffering "meltdowns" at the time of the offences.

He also suffered with heightened anxiety during Covid-19 lockdowns.

The court was told he has since moved to another facility, where he is "stable and well-managed".

A pre-sentence report found the racially aggravated assault was an isolated incident, concluding Bruty "does not hold entrenched racist or discriminatory views".

Mr Huston said a suspended sentence would result in a much higher prospect of rehabilitation.

Bruty, of Longbridge Road, Barking, was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, with a residency requirement keeping him at his current address.

He must pay £350 in compensation to his victims.