TWO men have been jailed by a judge after they sparked a violent and racist disturbance in Huddersfield town centre.

John Winter, 24, used racist abuse and caused damage to three taxis totalling more than £1,000 during the disturbance which started in Railway Street in October 2003.

He was jailed for a total of three years and three months at Bradford Crown Court on Wednesday after he pleaded guilty to offences of racially aggravated criminal damage, breaching an anti-social behaviour order and burglary.

His co-defendant, 23-year-old Anthony Johnson, received nine months in jail for affray, but Judge James Stewart QC said he had increased his sentence because he also had used racially abusive language during the incident.

Prosecutor Ben Crosland told the court how the disturbance started at about 3pm and it was the behaviour of Winter and Johnson which ignited the trouble.

The duo were said to have been walking along the line of waiting taxis shouting racist abuse, punching at windows and kicking doors. Winter was then seen to kick out at two taxis and punch the window of another.

Mr Crosland said one of the drivers later stated that he felt scared and frightened for his life. The disturbance was witnessed by staff at a nearby solicitors' office and other members of the public in the town centre.

The court heard that as a result of Winter and Johnson's actions, a group of at least 10 people, including some taxi drivers, were seen to attack them.

Mr Crosland said at the time of the incident Winter was subject to a two-year ASBO imposed by Huddersfield magistrates and, while on bail, he went on to commit three burglary offences.

Winter, of Riddings Close, Sheepridge, was said by his barrister Gillian Batts to be realistic about the fact that a prison sentence would be imposed, but she said her client wanted to give an explanation for his behaviour.

She said he had been drinking that afternoon and had become involved in an altercation with a group of Asian youths.

"Because his judgement was affected by drink he wrongly took out his anger and temper on the Asian taxi drivers who were simply doing their job," she conceded.

"He is anxious for me to say that he is not a racist person and indeed members of his family are of mixed race origin.

"He wants me to offer a public apology."

She said her client had been assaulted and injured though she accepted that would not justify any sympathy.

Johnson, of Holme Park Court, Berry Brow, was said by his barrister Timothy Stead to have been on anti-depressants at the time they went out drinking.

"Not only is Anthony Johnson not someone who harbours racist sentiments, he is himself of mixed race and it is not something he would ordinarily do or think of doing," said Mr Stead.