A RACIST thug has been jailed for six years for a violent robbery on a shopkeeper who had befriended him.

A RACIST thug has been jailed for six years for a violent robbery on a shopkeeper who had befriended him.

Barry Collins stabbed Sardar Reza before stealing cash from his grocery store in Glasgow's West End.

The attack happened just six months after Iraqi-born Mr Reza had taken over the shop.

At the High Court in Glasgow yesterday, Collins admitted the racially aggravated assault and robbery - an offence his own lawyer branded "insane".

It emerged the 32-year-old had previously been jailed for five years for another robbery in 2001.

Judge Lady Smith reduced the sentence for this latest robbery from eight years due to his guilty plea.

She said Mr Reza had been "entitled to respect" and to not become a victim of Collins.

The court heard Collins had been a regular at the shop in Dumbarton Road, Scotstoun.

The self-employed builder had helped Mr Reza find tradesmen to do work for him and in return he had given Collins goods on credit.

But around 9.30pm last September 28, Collins entered the store and threatened the 35-year-old.

Collins told him: "Give me the money or I will kill you."

He hurled racist abuse at Mr Reza and and told him to get back to his own country.

Collins struck the shopkeeper with a knife and snatched cash from the till.

Mr Reza grabbed hold of the blade, but Collins punched him and headbutted him before fleeing.

Collins, who was high on drink and drugs, was arrested the next day at his flat in nearby Earl Street, where officers found crumpled bank- notes stolen in the raid.