A man has been jailed for 20 months after he pleaded guilty to offences including racially aggravated assault in Portsmouth.

Hampshire Police were called to a report that at around 9:30pm on Sunday 31 August, a man was being verbally abusive to a small group of men, women and children outside of the Jami Mosque on Victoria Road North.

It was reported that the man had then punched one man from the group, before pulling out a knife and behaving aggressively towards two of the men.

Callum Mcinally, 29, of Waverley Road in Southsea was arrested and charged with the following offences:

• Racially / religiously aggravated common assault by beating
• Assault by beating
• Racially / religiously aggravated intentional harassment / alarm / distress
• Threaten a person with a blade / sharply pointed article in a public place

Mcinally appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates Court on Tuesday 2 September, where he pleaded guilty to all offences and was remanded into custody.

He appeared today (Friday 3 October) at Portsmouth Crown Court, where he was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment.

Portsmouth Chief Inspector Sam Warne said, “I am glad to see the seriousness of this incident recognised in today’s result.

“Mcinally’s behaviour shocked the community, and I hope his sentencing goes someway to helping repair cohesion in our communities.

“My officers and I are dedicated to making Portsmouth a safer place for all. Hate related incidents such as this will not be tolerated and anyone found to commit such offences will be brought to justice.

“I would like to thank the people of Portsmouth for their support as we continue to work with our partners and community leaders to strengthen our response, both in this and future incidents”