Three grandparents 'did Nazi salutes after attacking man they wrongly thought was Polish'

The two male attackers wore T-shirts saying 'Blood and Honour – England' and 'One True Saxon'

The Rigger Pub, on Marsh Parade in Newcastle (Google Street View )

Three grandparents reportedly attacked a couple then made Nazi salutes outside a pub - because they wrongly thought their victim was Polish.

Judither Pickerill, 45, and Paul Clarke, 47, both of Newcastle, and Sean Pickerill, 47, of Knutton, jointly assaulted the man and his girlfriend on a night out.

The trio attacked Milan Panacek, who is from Slovakia and has lived in the UK for six years, along with his English girlfriend, Genevieve Barnett, outside The Rigger Pub on Marsh Parade, Newcastle.

The Stoke Sentinel reported that Stoke on Trent Crown Court heard Pickerill’s t-shirt said 'Blood and Honour – England', Clarke’s said 'One True Saxon' - while Mr Panacek’s had a quote about the Spanish Civil War.

It heard that following a disagreement on the pub’s dance floor, Mr Panacek and Ms Barnett left the pub.

The couple were attacked outside by “a group of around eight people, which included the defendants”, according to the Stoke Sentinel.

Prosecutor Elizabeth Power said: “They were shouting racial abuse about Mr Panacek being Polish.

“Judith Pickerill punched Miss Barnett and scratched her to the face. She fell to the floor and hit her head on the pavement.”

The court reportedly heard Ms Pickerill went on to assault the manager of the pub. Meanwhile, both male defendants were attacking Mr Panacek.

Miss Barnett reportedly “suffered injuries including concussion and whiplash, and suffered blackouts after the incident", while Mr Panacek had a fractured nose.

Once police arrived, they found the group to be making Nazi salutes and shouting “Go back to your country” to the couple.

All three defendants pleaded guilty to racially aggravated assault occasioning actually bodily harm. Judith Pickerel also admitted common assault.

Marc Davies, who represented Ms Pickerill and Mr Clarke said: “They are ashamed and very sorry”.

The Stoke Sentinal reported that the court was told all three defendants had previous convictions, but none had been in trouble for a number of years.

Each defendant was sentenced to 12 months in prison by Judge David Fletcher.

He reportedly said: “This was an ugly, appalling incident. Your racial comments, in the hearing of numerous people, were completely ignorant.

“You are three people in your mid-forties. That makes this offence even more shocking.”