A WEST Buckland man has been given a suspended prison sentence for racially abusing another man more than a year ago in Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton.

Matthew Wells, aged 40, of Sawyers Hill, pleaded guilty when he appeared before Taunton Deane magistrates in January.

He was charged with causing racially or religiously aggravated fear of violence by his words and behaviour on May 10 last year, and appeared for sentencing on Monday (June 8).

The magistrates imposed a six-week jail sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered Wells to carry out up to 20 days of rehabilitation activities under probation service supervision, and to pay his victim £250 compensation.

Wells also pleaded guilty to failing to surrender to bail on June 4, for which no separate sentence was imposed.