THE owners of a fish and chip shop were racially abused and assaulted during an unprovoked attack by a drunken brother and sister, a court heard.

Marjan Masoudi, who ran First Plaice in Broadway, Grays with her husband Gholimali Niyaza, is alleged to have first noticed Jonathon Wilson making faces outside the shop window before shouting racial insults at her.

Cyrus Shroff, prosecution counsel, said Mr Wilson, 18, who had spent the evening drinking with his sister Joanne Wilson, 27, then walked into the shop at midnight on May 16 last year and started kicking the counter.

Moments later he was joined by Miss Wilson and the pair are accused of continuing to hurl racial abuse at Mrs Masoudi and Mr Niyaza.

The jury at Basildon Crown Court yesterday heard how the defendants are said to have become violent when Mr Niyaza asked them to leave.

Mr Shroff said: "Joanne is alleged to have hit and scratched Mr Niyaza. At one point Jonathon held on to Mr Niyaza while his sister hit him. At the same time Jonathon hits him."

Mr Niyaza eventually managed to get the defendants out of the shop and lock the door but while outside Mr Wilson is alleged to have been seen holding a knife in his hand and a few minutes later brandishing a knuckle duster.

Mr Shroff said Mr Niyaza eventually re-opened the door and the Wilsons walked in.

It is at this point Miss Wilson is said to have grabbed Mrs Masoudi by the hair.

Her brother then undone his trousers and exposed his private parts.

Mr Shroff added: "The crown say that this is further evidence of the loutish behaviour of this individual and goes to support what the prosecution witnesses say."

The Wilsons deny one count of racially aggravated fear or provocation of violence, racially aggravated damage to property and racially aggravated common assault on Mr Niyaza.

Miss Wilson, of Melbourne Parade, Melbourne Avenue, Chelmsford, denies a further charge of racially aggravated common assault on Mrs Masoudi.

Mr Wilson, of Oxley House, New Road, Grays, has also pleaded not guilty to exposure and two counts of having an offensive weapon.

The trial continues.