WILTSHIRE'S most senior police officer has criticised a man who subjected his officers to vile racist abuse.

John Hunter had been arrested for stealing a 4x4 when he turned his ire on a Melksham custody officer and the constable who took him to the Royal United Hospital, Bath, to get him checked out.

Reacting to the case Wiltshire Police Chief Constable Kier Pritchard said: “Hate speech has no place in our community and in Wiltshire we have a zero-tolerance approach to this type of crime.

"It is completely unacceptable that officers or staff, who put themselves on the line to protect the public, are abused with vile and racist language.”

Hunter, 53, whose case featured in yesterday's Adver, stripped off in the back of the police van before hitting himself against the side of the vehicle and repeatedly telling PC Evangeline Templar, who is of mixed race, to "go back to your own country". She said the comments had been hurtful: !Even though I wear a uniform I’m a human being, I have feelings.”

Custody officer Kavi Ramsewak, who was subjected to racist abuse at Melksham police station, said: “I feel targeted and victimised because of the colour of my skin. This has left me feeling very stressed.”

Magistrates sentenced Hunter to a 12-month community order