A BRAVE Polish man fended off a gang of around 20 yobs with a baton, while they attacked him and shouted racist abuse outside his home, Exeter Crown Court has heard.

Lee Jennings, 20, William Scott, 18, and a boy, now 15, appeared before the court on Friday for their role in the "terrifying" attack on Adrian Kujawa in Exeter Hill, Cullompton.

Jennings, of Lime Road, Tiverton, was given a 36 week prison sentence, suspended for two years, a year's supervision and 100 hours of unpaid work in the community, after admitting affray.

Scott, of Old Village, Willand, was given a one-year community order and 180 hours of unpaid work after also admitting affray.

The 15-year-old, from the Cullompton area, was given a three-month action plan to work with the youth offending team, after admitting a public order offence.

Prosecutor Ann Hampshire said the gang walked past as the victim and his pregnant wife were arriving home, around 10.30pm on February 27 last year. The victim stopped outside to have a cigarette while his wife went indoors.

Jennings approached the victim and punched him, while shouting vile remarks about the pregnant woman, as the gang laughed.

The man went into his house to avoid them but Jennings kicked and banged the door.

The man came out again, Jennings swung a piece of pipe at him and the victim punched back in self-defence before going back inside.

The gang hurled abuse and an unnamed member broke the front door off its hinges.

The prosecutor said: "The victim asked his wife to call police. She couldn't find her phone as she was in a panic and frightened and he was too.

"He had no alternative but to stand up for himself and his pregnant wife."

The man hoped to frighten the group off, without any violence, but Jennings shouted racist remarks while Scott swung a piece of drainpipe at him.

"He fortunately missed," said the prosecutor. "He received a strike back by the victim with his baton."

Unnamed members of the group lashed out with a tree branch, a paving slab and stones until police arrived.

The 15-year-old's role was to use abusive language, although he admitted a public order offence on the basis he did not say anything racist or use violence.

Both Jennings and Scott have a criminal record for violence, while the 15-year-old has two unrelated previous offences.

Jennings had only been given a community order two days before the incident.

Defence counsel said Jennings's life had been spiralling out of control after holding his younger brother in his arms as he died, but he had matured since the offence, becoming a carer for his mother and with organising a placement with the Prince's Trust charity. His pregnant girlfriend would lose their home if he was jailed.

Recorder Sarah Munro QC said: "This was an horrific incident."