A COURT worker has been sentenced to 100 hours' community service for racially abusing one of Britain's first black female judges.

Lee Death, a legal messenger of Allendale Close, Sydenham, abused Constance Briscoe when he walked out in front of her car following an all-day drinking session.

Ms Briscoe, 49, called the police and then followed 27-year-old Death and his friends as they got into a cab.

The married mother-of-two told the driver not to accept the passengers and then chased Death to a nearby pub, where he was arrested.

Ms Briscoe, who owns a legal practice in west London, is married to top QC Tony Arlidge and made it to the top of the Sunday Times bestseller list with Ugly.

The memoir contains a harrowing account of her impoverished childhood in Camberwell, south London, and tells how her abusive mother would call her a "black bitch".

City of London Magistrates' Court heard how she was driving past the Coach and Horses pub in Whitefriars Street, central London, on December 23 last year when Death stepped in front of her car.

Prosecutor Michael Otuyalo told how Death starting shouting at Ms Briscoe.

She asked him what he had said and he began racially abusing her.

Death denied racially aggravated threatening behaviour but was found guilty on October 11.

Ms Briscoe, who has been a barrister since 1983 and a judge since 1996, gave evidence and the court was told she was a credible and trustworthy witness.

Callum Haddow, defending, said Death still refuses to accept responsibility for the crime and has instructed his legal team to appeal against the conviction.

He said the trial had been a contributory factor in Death's separation from his wife.

Sentencing Death, chairman of the bench Richard Walduck said: "It was a very foolish thing to do.

"You don't need lectures on the dangers of alcohol. Be careful in the future."

Death was sentenced to do 100 hours' unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay Ms Briscoe £100 compensation and costs of £200.