Lawrence suspects are jailed

Two suspects in the Stephen Lawrence murder were each jailed for 18 months today for returning to the scene of the killing to racially abuse a black police officer.

Judge Michael Carroll told David Norris and Neil Acourt the sentence was to punish them and "send a signal out to others" about how abhorrent society found their racist crime.

The court heard that both defendants refused to accept their guilt, refused to show remorse and are lodging an appeal. As they left court, blowing kisses to their friends, Acourt shouted "fit-up" and Norris's mother in the public gallery screamed "absolutely disgusting" at the judge.

Norris, 26, of Chislehurst, and Acourt, 27, of Greenwich, had driven in a hired car to Eltham, the court heard. In the very street where Stephen was stabbed to death and only half a mile from the actual scene of the murder, Acourt drove the car at Detective Constable Gareth Reid as he waited to cross the road.

Norris threw a soft drink carton at him and shouted "nigger" before both drove off, laughing. They were convicted in July of causing racially aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress, which carries a maximum two- year prison sentence.

Both Norris and Acourt claim they are neither racist nor violent, their barrister John Hurlock told Woolwich Crown Court today.

Mr Hurlock said both Lawrence suspects had become virtual recluses as a result of the publicity surrounding the murder. Acourt could not find a job and his last girlfriend had left him because of alleged press intrusion while father-offour Norris, who still lived with his mother, was on antidepressants, took cannabis because of his depression and had suicidal thoughts. He suggested both men would benefit from a community service order and counselling rather than prison.

However, the judge emphasised their crime was "one of the more serious of its kind". He added: "In May last year both of you came to the area where Stephen Lawrence was murdered nine years ago."

He went on: "It is relevant to know when you complain of that persecution and isolation resulting from that murder which led to notoriety for both of you."

He said their joint enterprise in abusing the black policeman was so well planned that there was no apparent consultation between them before they carried it out. Since Norris and Acourt's conviction DC Reid has described how he is "living in fear" about possible revenge attacks.