A drunken passenger has been jailed for racially abusing and attacking a deaf man on a train.

Michael Lannuzel, of London Road in Mitcham was walking down the aisle as they were arriving Victoria station on January 6 when the victim stood in front of him to leave.

Convinced he was being challenged, Lannuzel shouted “are you standing up to me” at the unaware victim’s back.

Lannuzel, 43, continued to stand behind the victim, who is aged in his 50s, and shout racist insults and violent threats.

He then shouted “I didn’t tell you to stand up.”

The victim then saw Lannuzel raise his arm and grabbed hold of it. After a brief tussle the victim fell into his seat.

Lannuzel, was arrested shortly after leaving the train.

He was jailed for seven months and two weeks at London Magistrates’ Court on February 21 after pleading guilty to racially aggravated common assault and a public order offence.

He will also serve a five year Criminal Behaviour Order that prevents him travelling on trains while intoxicated, carrying an open vessel containing alcohol in a public place, loitering in stations, and asking for money on the London Underground or any mainline railway station.

British Transport Police PC Philip Griffiths said: “This was a completely unprovoked attack. The victim was unaware of Lannuzel’s behaviour up until the moment he raised his arm in a threatening way.

“The sentence reflects the seriousness of Lannuzel’s actions and the no-nonsense approach the courts take to racist abuse and threats on board our stations and trains.”