A DRUNKEN Royal Marine attacked three men and racially abused one of them in a Plymouth bar, a court heard.

Marine Matthew Smith, aged 22, hurled racist abuse at a black drinker and told him to "go back to where you came from", Plymouth magistrates were told. But Smith, based with 42 Commando at Bickleigh Barracks, had acted as a liaison with Afghan elders on his second tour of the war-torn country. He also has black and Asian comrades in the unit. His solicitor Robin Smith said he was receiving counselling after the death in action of one of his colleagues.

Smith admitted racially-motivated assault by beating of Marshall Monu on January 12. He further admitted assaulting Dean Lewis and Martin Newitt by beating the same night. Magistrates fined him a total of £730 for the assaults and ordered him to pay £60 to each of his victims. He must also pay £80 prosecution costs and ordered to pay £15 victim surcharge, making an overall court bill of £1,005.

Presiding magistrate Barry Brooking said: "Clearly you acted wrongly. This was a very, very expensive night you had."

Michael French, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said Smith had got into an argument with Mr Lewis at about 2.30am. He added Smith grabbed Mr Lewis and pushed him around, repeatedly punching him in the face. Mr French said he pushed Mr Newitt when he intervened, firstly against some railings and then on to the floor. He added then Mr Monu asked Smith to calm down.

Mr French said: "The defendant called him a black something-or-other and told him to get back where he came from. He then punched him on the nose."

The court heard Mr Monu and Mr Newitt suffered minor injuries. Mr Lewis was unharmed but his shirt was torn.

Mr Smith said the Marine accepted his behaviour was "out of order" and was remorseful for his actions.

He added: "He is an extremely proud Marine and things were said to him. We are not using that as an excuse."

Mr Smith said the Marine admitted he was on 'eight or nine' on a scale of drunkenness out of 10.