Two men have been fined by a court for racially aggravated disorderly behaviour after making abusive comments towards a group of Jewish people on a train.

Paul Blaylock, 53, and Ian Routledge, 63, admitted to the charge at Carlisle’s Rickergate court last week for comments made during a journey between Newcastle and Carlisle in February.

Prosecutor John Moran described the pair making “abusive, threatening comments” which were “upsetting to other people”, including that the group should “go back to where they came from.”

According to Mr Moran, the group sitting nearby were visibly Jewish, as was evident from their head coverings.

The two men had boarded the train at Hexham, he said, and the abuse began after the train had reached Haltwhistle.

“The group were talking and laughing among themselves and both defendants could be heard making racially abusive comments,” Mr Moran told the court, a report in the News & Star said.

When asked by the presiding District Judge Gerald Chalk to comment, Mr Blaylock said: “I’d just like to say that the racial aggravation has been very much exaggerated.”

Mr Routledge declined to comment.

Neither defendant was represented by a lawyer, and Mr Moran accepted they should be given credit for admitting their guilt.

Mr Blaylock was fined £200 and Mr Routledge £250, each incurring additional costs and a victim surcharge. The fines were increased to account for the racial element of the offences.