Prison terms for Metro attackers

Jagpal Pritam and Balvinder Hunjan have been jailed

Two men have been jailed for 18 months for carrying out an unprovoked attack on a passenger travelling home on the Midland Metro tram service.

Jagpal Pritam, 22, from Wednesbury and Balvinder Hunjan, 20, from Smethwick, kicked and punched their 47-year-old white victim and racially abused him.

Birmingham Crown Court heard the victim's blood was found on walls and floors after last August's attack.

The two men pleaded guilty to a charge of racially aggravated assault.

'White trash'

The court also heard a conductor who arrived to stop the attack was also abused. Eventually, another passenger managed to break up the fight.

The court also heard how they had called their victim, from Wolverhampton, "white trash" and other racial terms.

The attack was filmed on the tram's CCTV system.

Pritam, was jailed for 18 months in prison, half to be served on licence, and Hunjam was given 18 months in a young offenders institution.

Ch Insp Allan Gregory of British Transport Police said the Metro was a safe transport system but the attack in August had been horrendous.

"The victim suffered a number of physical injuries such as bruising, swelling and cuts to the face," he said.