A TEENAGER racially abused and attacked staff while trying to force her way into a specialist care facility.

Jennifer Green was trying to get into Donyland Lodge, Colchester, a special unit for those with learning disabilities.

She wanted to confront a resident and was furious when she was not allowed in.

Stephen Sparkes, prosecuting at Colchester Magistrates' Court yesterday, said: "The victims are support night workers.

"She started kicking the door. Both victims were trying to persuade her to leave.

"She started to swear at them. She made the comment to one 'go back to your own country'.

"He is from Algeria.

"She then attacked him, pushed him in the chest, kicking the back of his legs and hit him to the head.

"This is a hate crime."

Green, of Whitehall Close, Colchester, then began attacking the second victim, a female worker who was trying to get Green off the first victim during the incident which lasted about ten minutes.

Mr Sparkes said: "She was kicked twice in the legs."

The male victim suffered a cut to his chin and bruising to his back, head and neck and the female victim suffered injuries to her legs.

The 19-year-old defendant has a history of violence and ignoring court orders.

Green allegedly suffers from emerging personality disorder although this has not been formally diagnosed and has a mild learning disability.

Folashade Abiodun, mitigating, told the court Green did not mean her comment "in a racist way" but he "perceived it in that way".

District Judge Susan Holdham said she could not have meant the words "go back to your own country" in any other way other than racist.

Ms Abiodun said: "She was angry and she was not thinking.

"She had been refused entry and things spiralled out of control."

She said Green was not under the care of the mental health services at the time of the incident although was known to them having previously, and subsequently, received some care.

Green admitted one count of assault by beating following the attack on the female night support worker on December 12.

She admitted one count of racially aggravated assault by beating on the same night, on the male victim.

District Judge Holdham, referring to a previous report from probation, said: "Her behaviours are escalating and she chooses to use threats and violence and intimidation to get her own way.

"She does not want to accept the assistance of the probation service.

"Eventually she is going to realise the next step is custody."

A spokesman for the probation service confirmed she refuses to engage with them.

Speaking to the defendant District Judge Holdham said: "You pleaded guilty and you have expressed remorse.

"You can't just kick and push and abuse people when you don't get your own way.

"You have an unenviable list of previous convictions already."

Green was sentenced to six weeks in jail for the racially aggravated assault and four weeks concurrently for the assault on the female.

However the sentence was suspended for six months.

No requirements were put on the order.

It means if she commits no crime for six months she will have received no punishment for these latest attacks, although she was ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs which will be added to her fines account.