AN ABERYSTWYTH man has admitted a racially aggravated assault on a Norwegian visitor.

Joseph Brian St John Early, 38, admitted pushing and kneeing Emil Ramsdal on Aberystwyth promenade on 9 May.

But Early, originally from London, said he is not racist and he was just in a bad mood.

Prosecutor Rhian Jones told Aberystwyth magistrates that Mr Ramsdal was walking toward the prom with his phone when he was approached by Early who initially started asking him about his phone.

He asked Mr Ramsdal where he was from and when Mr Ramsdal said he was from Norway, Early started shouting at him that he had changed his accent.

Early demanded to know how Mr Ramsdal had “got into this country” before telling him to go to Birmingham and fly home.

Mr Ramsdal tried to walk away, but Early pushed him and kicked him to the upper thigh.

One witness described Early, of Windmill Court Cottages, 5 Eastgate, as being “very aggressive and threatening”, Ms Jones said.

After his arrest, Early admitted he had launched abuse at Mr Ramsdal including comments about how he should leave the UK, but denied he was racist.

He claimed that he had been in a bad mood and had started abusing Mr Ramsdal as he wanted to make Mr Ramsdal “feel bad”.

Defence solicitor Alison Mathias said Early, who she said has mental health issues which may have played a part in the incident, had thought Mr Ramsdal was planning to launch an attack on him, by slapping him and filming it before posting it on social media.

She said that when Early first spoke to Mr Ramsdal, he had answered in an American accent before changing to a more European accent after he said he was from Norway. Ms Mathias said that had annoyed Early.

She said Early is of Irish descent and has suffered racial prejudice himself.

While Early admitted he assaulted Mr Ramsdal, Ms Mathias said no injuries were caused.

Early was given a conditional discharge for two years. He will also pay compensation of £50 to Mr Ramsdal and costs totalling £105.