A POLICEMAN'S son and another youth were jailed after a Court heard how a gang threatened and shouted racial abuse at two Asian takeaway owners.

The owners of Otley's Monsoon takeaway, on Boroughgate, Alean and Shilbley Choudhury, were said to be in fear of gangs of youths who shouted and chanted at them in two incidents on October 28, 2000.

And one of the jailed youths was said to have struck the couple with a 4ft metal rod.

Leeds Crown Court last Thursday locked up Stephen 'Stig' Williams, 19 of The Gills, and policeman's son Duncan Edwards, 21, formerly of East Busk Lane, now living in Menston, for their part in the incidents.

Edwards' brother, Le-Alan Edwards, was fined £300.

Prosecuting, Jonathan Gibson told the court a gang of youths, including Williams and Le-Alan Edwards, were asked to leave the takeaway shortly after midnight, as the group began flicking the lights on and off.

One of the youths shouted racist abuse at Mrs Choudhury and slammed the door as he left. Mr Gibson then heard the gang shouting racial abuse, and called the police.

She went outside to see Williams brandish a thick metal rod, possibly from a market stall, and strike her husband. Mr Gibson said Williams then threw the bar at Mrs Choudhury, hitting her leg.

Neither were seriously injured, but a statement from Mr Choudhury said: "I've never had anything like this before. I was in fear of these youths."

Police arrived on the scene in time to see the youths.

Mr Gibson said Mrs Choudhury again heard shouting later on the same night.

The youths again shouted racial abuse, and were heard chanting 'We're white, we're white'.

She recognised Duncan Edwards' voice shouting racist comments, because of his Southern accent.

Williams and Duncan Edwards pleaded guilty to the racially aggravated charge of causing the fear of violence, while Le-Alan Edwards admitted a lesser charge.

In mitigation, Scott Wilson told the court that Williams admitted the racial element of the charge because he had been part of the gang, but argued he was not a racist.

Mr Wilson said Williams had briefly moved from home last year, after family difficulties, but had since returned, and has a job.

He said Williams had gone along with the mob out of youthful exuberance, and now thought of the incident as 'downright disgraceful'.

Representing Duncan Edwards, Robert Mairs described him as a 'hardworking, stable young man', and handed the judge several character references.

He said the offence was an isolated incident, and said that it had brought shame on the family, as Edwards' father is a police officer serving with the Royal Protection Squad in London.

Christopher Batty, representing Le-Alan Edwards, asked the judge for a financial penalty, and handed him two character references.

Judge Ian Dobkin sent Williams to a young offenders' institution for ten months, and sentenced Duncan Edwards to eight months.

He said Williams could have caused an enormous amount of damage with the metal rod, and said he had been on bail at the time of the incident for other offences.

Williams was given 180 hours community service earlier this year for his part in a street brawl.

Judge Dobkin said he was concerned by Duncan Edwards' decision to get involved in the second incident.

"You weren't involved in the first part of the incident at all, but you decided to go past the shop later that day and involve yourself in further racial abuse," he said.