A care home worker was subjected to a torrent of racist abuse from two West Sussex men as he searched for a missing boy, a court heard.

Roger Crookes was targeted when he walked past two men who later turned their attentions to a 12-year-old boy.

Worthing Magistrates Court heard yesterday that Thomas Boughton-Leigh, 25 - now facing a jail sentence - and Christopher Punter, 36, had been drinking heavily when they shouted abuse.

Claire Ellis, prosecuting, said the two men stumbled upon Mr Crookes during his search for a boy who had gone missing from a children's home in Queen's Road, Worthing, on January 25 at 9.15pm.

Ms Ellis said: "Mr Crookes walked past the two defendants and heard one say "What are you looking at?" and call him a racist name.

"He turned and saw it was Boughton-Leigh. Mr Crookes found it offensive because of his Afro-Caribbean background. Boughton-Leigh continued to make comments."

At first Punter intervened but eventually joined Boughton-Leigh in shouting abuse.

A boy, who cannot be named, witnessed the scene and started screaming from a nearby window but the men shouted racist comments at him.

Chris Chatterton, defending, said: "They were fuelled by alcohol and that's what caused this incident."

Both men admitted causing racially aggravated harassment or distress.

Punter, of South Farm Road, Worthing, was fined £150 and ordered to pay £100 costs. Boughton-Leigh, of Grinstead Lane, Lancing, will appear at court on July 8 for sentencing.