AN Asian shopkeeper subjected to endless racist abuse has been prosecuted for "going too far" when he tackled a shoplifter.

George Pillai – who owns Alexandra News, on Alexandra Road, Grimsby – slashed thief Ryan Baldock's face with a Stanley knife while he tried to stop him from stealing a bottle of wine.

Mr Pillai (40) admitted wounding on April 22 at Grimsby Crown Court.

But the case was described as "wholly exceptional" – and Baldock himself wrote to the court questioning why Mr Pillai was being prosecuted.

In the 18 months before the incident, there were 47 reports of crimes towards Mr Pillai and his family at the shop – ranging from the windows being smashed, to an incident in which his finger was broken.

In a letter sent to the court, Baldock said he "couldn't understand" why Mr Pillai had been charged, and that it was because of his own "stupidity" that the fight happened.

Representing Mr Pillai, Andrew Bailey said: "Him and his shop are an easy target. He is regularly attacked at his shop and seems to have been worn down by these repeated incidents."

Mr Pillai, a member of the Grimsby North Ethnic Minority Shopkeepers' Forum, who is heavily involved with his local church, was described by Judge John Reddihough as being a man of integrity with an impeccable character.

On the day of the incident, Baldock had entered the store, muttering racist abuse, before stuffing wine up his jumper.

Initially, Mr Pillai tried to engage him in conversation, but when that didn't work, a scuffle broke out between the two.

After Baldock claimed to have a knife, Mr Pillai grabbed a knife he was using to open boxes and cut him a number of times across the face.

Baldock, who was described by Judge John Reddihough as a "thoroughly bad lot", was arrested a short time later, but told police he had been "cut up" by Mr Pillai, using racist language to describe him.

The court was told that Baldock has committed 30 crimes of various natures. In June, magistrates told Baldock they were "absolutely crackers" not to lock him up for a series of thefts. Instead, he was given a community order.

Sentencing Mr Pillai, Judge John Reddihough said: "It is unfortunate that, in the heat of the moment, you used that knife. You went a little bit too far in protecting yourself.

"Up until then, nobody could ever criticise you for a moment, but you have to accept that you can't take the law into your own hands.

"I think the people who regularly use your shop will take the view that is most unfortunate you were charged with this offence when you were simply seeking to defend yourself, your family and your business."

He described it as a "wholly exceptional" case, and sentenced Mr Pillai to a 12-month community order. He must complete 40 hours of unpaid work.