A DRINK driver who told a policeman on Armistice Day “when one of your soldiers gets killed in Afghanistan I laugh” has been jailed.

Azhar Hussain committed a string of offences in Oxford on November 11, including racially abusing an Asian policeman and a school teacher.

On his arrest the 28-year-old businessman, who runs a company offering discount restaurant vouchers, told Pc Aidan Donohoe: “When one of your soldiers gets killed in Afghanistan I laugh.

“I hope it’s your brother.”

Turning his attentions to Pc Javid Haq, Hussain addressed him in Punjabi, shouting: “You ****ing dirty Indian. I’m going to kill you and **** your mother. I’m going to find out who you are.”

Hussain, of Cornwallis Road, Cowley, was jailed at Oxford Crown Court yesterday.

He was arrested after driving into the grounds of Oxford Spires Academy in Glanville Road, East Oxford, at about 3.15pm on November 11. There he played loud music, revved his engine and made an obscene gesture at a member of staff before before racially abusing him, prosecutor Charles Ward-Jackson said.

When Pcs Haq and Donohoe pulled him over Hussain smelled of alcohol and had a bottle of vodka in the car. He refused to give a breath specimen to police.

Three months earlier, on August 23, the defendant had taken his brother’s hire car without consent and drink drove around Bedford.

When parking attendant Iva Jursevska tried to issue him with a ticket he assaulted her and later resisted arrest before failing a breath test with a reading of 72 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath, more than twice the legal limit of 35 microgrammes.

In all, Hussain admitted 15 offences, including driving while disqualified and without insurance, and possessing cannabis.

Nick Cotter, defending, said his Oxford-born client had battled alcoholism since a family trip to Pakistan in 2004 when his parents tried to arrange for him to marry a woman five days after meeting her.

He said Hussain was “totally ashamed of his behaviour” and had written letters of apology to all his victims.

Mr Cotter added: “When sober he’s actually a very decent young man, very articulate.

“He’s someone who in fact if he can kick this alcohol addiction could make a very useful contribution to society.”

Judge Patrick Eccles jailed him for a total of 18 months and banned him from driving for three years.