Man beaten for not speaking English

A Spaniard was beaten unconscious with a plank and told he should “speak English”, a court heard.

Tomas Gil, 27, was hit in the face with the plank by Daniel Way, 37, while talking to a woman in Bournemouth. Way, of Poole, wrenched the plank from a building then hit Mr Gil, screaming, “------- Spanish, speak in English”, the court heard. He admitted racially aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage and was given a 12-month sentence, suspended for 15 months.