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A teenage gang who carried out an abhorrent racist attack on a black family in Liverpool were locked up for nearly 25 years.

Five yobs, armed with a fence panel with nails protruding from it, a baseball bat and machete, set upon a religious minister in front of his 14-year-old daughter and two sons while shouting vile abuse.

The eldest son had to pull a nail out of his head after the attack in Dovecot at around 5.50pm on May 1 last year.

Liverpool Crown Court heard the ordeal began when the girl was making her way home from school and passed a 10-strong gang outside Finch Road shops.

Connor Killcourse, 19, called her a “n*****” and threatened to “batter your brother and your dad”.

She told her dad and her 17-year-old brother, who himself had suffered abuse from the gang over the past two years.

Robert Wyn Jones, prosecuting, said that evening, they passed the youths while driving back from their eldest son’s home and their car was pelted with a rock.

The dad got out and asked them not to abuse his family and the thugs ran away.

But they came across them again barricading the road around the corner, armed with sticks and at least one knife.

Killcourse, of Rupert Road, Huyton threw a rock at the dad’s chest, knocking him backwards.

The younger son was set upon and a 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, kicked him in the head.

Jordan Jackson, 19, of Whittier Street, Toxteth, hit the eldest son with a fence panel with nails in it. He was also struck by a baseball bat in the eye.

Daniel Finnigan, 19, of Childers Street, Old Swan, also kicked him in the head and struck him in the head with a stick.

Kyle Jackson, 19, of MacQueen Street, Old Swan heard police sirens and shouted “leave these n******, we’ll come back and get them then”.

While his son was being beaten, one of the yobs threatened to stab the dad with a machete, while others shouted “stab his dad”.

He later told officers he thought the only reason he escaped was because the gang fled.

The eldest son suffered eight puncture wounds to his head and bruising to his left eye, which caused blurred vision for some time after.

Mr Wyn Jones said: “The father saw his son pulling a nail out of his head.”

He said the daughter later described herself feeling “worthless” and asking what was the point in carrying on in a world that did not want her.

The eldest son remembered “the sickening thump” when the bat hit him in the eye and is now uncomfortable leaving his home.

The dad believed he was going to die and could not protect his children.

Mr Wyn Jones said: “He thought it was going to end in front of his family.”

The gang except for Finnigan denied taking part or even being at the scene during police interviews.

Jordan Jackson, who had one previous conviction for racially aggravated assault and abuse against the family, pleaded guilty at trial to wounding with intent.

Finnigan, who was on bail at the time for possessing a lock knife and cannabis, admitted wounding with intent and violent disorder at trial.

Killcourse, who is serving a 25-month sentence for dealing heroin and cocaine and was on bail, pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Kyle Jackson, who had no previous convictions, admitted violent disorder.

The 16-year-old, who had a previous conviction for racial abuse against the family, admitted violent disorder at trial.

Judge David Aubrey, QC, said the gang targeted a “vulnerable family for one reason and one reason only, and that was the colour of their skin”.

He said it was “totally unacceptable in any civilised society” and “a campaign of racial hatred”.

The judge said: “I as a fellow human being felt ashamed hearing of the events. This city prides itself on being ‘one world in one city’.

“You potentially have destroyed that belief that each and every one of us, certainly those right minded, hold.

“The word must go out that when racially aggravated offences are committed, severe punishment must and will follow.

“What each of you did and uttered was vile and abhorrent in the extreme and it was driven by racial hatred.

“On occasions man’s inhumanity to man, notwithstanding your tender age, knows no bounds.”

Jordan Jackson was locked up for nine years and Finnigan for eight years.

Kyle Jackson was sentenced to three years and four months.

Killcourse was handed two years and 11 months, to be served once his current sentence ends.

The 16-year-old was locked up for 18 months.