Three yobs launched a foul-mouthed racist tirade at a US Army veteran who confronted them about making obscene remarks to a mother in front of her children.

Aaron Cauchi, 19, Robert Molloy, 20, and another youth aged 16, also used foul language and spat in the face of a cyclist, Manchester Magistrates' Court heard.

All three had been up all night and were drinking and 'looking for trouble' when they abused three people on their way to work in Mancheser city centre on June 28 last year.

Army veteran and university lecturer Juan Jasso was travelling on a packed commuter tram when he asked the beer-swigging trio to stop swearing - before they turned on him and told him to 'Get back to Africa' among other sickening insults.

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Robert Molloy (left) and Aaron Cauchi (right) outside Manchester Magistrates' Court

Father-of-one Mr Jasso said he decided to stand up to the trio - who were swigging beer on the tram - despite knowing that he would 'probably be on his own'

During their rampage, they also surrounded Alistair Lambert, who was with a female work colleague, ans struck him with a cigarette lighter to intimidate him.

Shortly after, Andrew Guest was cycling to work when he passed the group - who spat in his face and on his body. All three were later caught and arrested.

Cauchi, of Spa Crescent, Little Hulton, Salford, pleaded guilty to two public order offences against Mr Jasso and another man, Alistair Lambert, and assault on a third person, Andrew Guest, all on the same day.

Molloy, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated assault of Mr Jasso, common assault to Mr Guest and using threatening words or behaviour to Mr Lambert.

They will be sentenced at Manchester Magistrates' Court tomorrow.

The 16-year-old pleaded guilty to using threatening words or behaviour towards Mr Jasso and Mr Lambert and common assault to Mr Guest and received a six month referral order, £100 costs and £20 compensation to each victim.

As the tram pulled into Market Street the teenagers flicked drink in the direction of the man they were abusing which covered several passengers and a child in a pram

Mr Jasso, pictured outside court today, said: 'I still feel very frustrated when all I wanted to do was to talk to them about their language. I did not expect to be racially abused'

In video footage recorded during the incident, t he trio responded to Mr Jasso's request to stop swearing by unleashing abuse, with one heard shouting 'F***ing get off the tram now' and 'Don't chat s*** or get deported'.

He responds by saying 'How old are you, 18 or 19? I have been here longer than you. You are extremely ignorant and unintelligent.'

Mr Jasso served as a Signals Intelligence Analyst in the US Army from 1997 to 2004.

In the clip fellow commuters can be heard shouting back at the teenagers, calling them 'disgusting' and a 'disgrace'. Others can be seen shaking their heads in disgust.

Speaking after the incident, the father-of-one, who now works as a fitness tutor at Calderdale College, said he decided to stand up to them despite knowing that he would 'probably be on his own'.

His fellow commuters congratulated him and applauded his bravery when the yobs were kicked off the tram.

The shocking abuse was captured on camera by Mr Jasso, who is now living in the UK

Juan Jasso, who is an American citizen and US veteran, was the victim of the disgraceful racist attack on a Manchester tram

Mr Jasso served as a Signals Intelligence Analyst in the US Army from 1997 to 2004

Mr Jasso said: 'I still feel very frustrated when all I wanted to do was to talk to them about their language. I did not expect to be racially abused.

'Their behaviour towards me was unacceptable. I do not fear them but I find their behaviour especially in this situation absolutely awful.

'I have lived in this country for 13 years and served seven in the military. This is the first incident of racist abuse I have suffered. Nobody has the right to say that to me or others.'

He added: 'It's not something you'd ever like to experience in your daily life. It's not something that's a pleasant experience and it's something that I hopefully never have to go through again - but if I need to confront somebody about it again I will do.

'I still take public transport, it still feels very very safe, especially with some of the initiatives that came out after the incident itself. It raised more awareness and there was an increase of staff on platforms.

'But like I said, on public transport if I witness something like that and I'm in earshot I'm gonna speak up again. I just hope that people realise that that sort of behaviour is not acceptable or tolerated.'

The trio hurled racist abuse at Mr Jasso in front of horrified commuters in June last year

The American army veteran and rugby player is lecturing at a UK university - and was subjected to the abuse while using public transport

Mr Jasso said he had never experienced anything like this in the area before.

And in the UK as whole - where he has lived for almost 18 years - this is only the second time he has been party to any form of racist attack.

But Mr Jasso, who also coached rugby league team London Broncos, said that the hateful act has not affected him in 'any way, shape or form' and said that he considers the UK his home.