A Rowley Regis man who tried to make a Muslim workmate eat bacon knowing it was against his religious beliefs has been jailed for three years.

Lee McDermott, of Blue Stone Walk, was part of a three-strong group which carried out a ten month campaign of racial harrassment against Amjid Mahmood.

The men, who all worked at a roadworks depot, also washed down their victim with soapy water to turn him white and abandoned him in the Lozells area of Birmingham after the 2005 race riots.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard on Thursday how the trio also placed a rucksack containing multi-coloured wires designed to resemble a bomb on top of 29-year old Mahmood's works locker and set fire to his trousers.

Mr Andrew Wallace, prosecuting, said they caused danger to Mr Mahmood by bad driving, took off his trousers to expose his private parts and continually made disgraceful racial comments.

The bucket of a mini digger was also swung at the victim, knocking off his helmet and soil was dropped onto his head. Mr Mahmood was tied naked to railings, hosed down with cold water and then they tried to get him to eat the bacon.

Judge John Warner told Phillip Skett, 38, Sean Melaney, 28, and 31-year old McDermott what started out as horseplay gathered momentum and developed into a "campaign of deliberate bullying".

He said they made the life of Mr Mahmood a misery and added: "You humiliated him and the things you did to him were painful, hurtful, dangerous and done with considerable thought."

The Judge said the life of their victim had been "blighted by their activities" and he went on: "This behaviour was an appalling and exceptional example of what can happen and its consequences.

"This sort of behaviour will not be tolerated in a civilised society, in the workplace or elsewhere."

Skett, of Erdington, Melaney, of Kingstanding, and McDermott all admitted racially aggravated harassment and putting another in fear of violence.

Melaney and Skett were also jailed for three years by the Judge who told all three there was no doubt they had targeted Mr Mahmood because of his race.

John Evans, defending McDermott, said he was a "foolish individual" who joined in what happened and was totally ashamed of the way he had behaved.

The court was told the men all worked for Amey Mouchel at its Bescot depot and what happened, stressed Mr Wallace, was "clearly no joke" for Mr Mahmood who had been continually humiliated.