A MAN who drove his neighbour to the verge of suicide through racial abuse has been spared jail - but ordered to attend a special course on racism.

Christopher Heppell, 60, was found guilty of using racist language against his neighbour Ahmed Karbani, in Oldman Court, Foxwood.

Mr Karbani claimed he and his family had endured a three-and-a-half-year campaign of insults and abuse from Heppell.

At York Magistrates Court Heppell was sentenced to a 12-month community penalty, which will include special work to address racially-motivated behaviour.

At a previous hearing, Heppell had denied two counts of racial abuse, but he was convicted of using racial language on at least one occasion between January 2002 and July 16, 2005. He was cleared of a second charge, relating to an incident on July 17, 2005.

Steve Ovenden, prosecuting, told the magistrates who sentenced Heppell: "Mr Karbani had known Mr Heppell for some time. Mr Karbani would say the family would keep themselves to themselves and avoid trouble. Over a number of years a number of things happened."

He said Heppell had told his neighbour: "We don't have blacks round here."

Mr Ovenden quoted Mr Karbani as having said: "We have to put up with constant abuse, threats and intimidation. I do not know how much more I can take.

"I find it increasingly difficult to cope with the horror of what's going on. My family is being intimidated because of their ethnicity. Whenever we go out to try to enjoy ourselves, we find it ruined."

Mr Karbani had accused Heppell of a number of offences, including frequent racial abuse outside their homes; installing a bright security light which shone straight into Mr Karbani's sister's room; photographing Mr Karbani washing dog dirt off his drive; standing in front of him with binoculars; and driving in a way that caused concern to Mr Karbani's mother.

Jacky East, Heppell's solicitor, said: "Mr Heppell continues to deny involvement in this matter, and it is right to say an appeal will be launched in due course. But Mr Heppell accepts the court must impose a sentence today."

She said Heppell was a carer for his disabled wife and elderly father, and said any prison sentence would have a severe impact on his family.

Updated: 09:18 Wednesday, May 10, 2006