A man has been jailed after he ordered his dog to bite three sisters in a racially motivated attack, reports the Metro.

The three women, aged 16, 22, and 23, were on a London Midland train from Kings Norton to Redditch in July this year.

Luke Nicholls, 21, boarded the train at Northfields with another man who had a dog and they sat next to them.

The dog licked the jacket of one of the victims so she moved away. When he saw this happen, Nicholls encouraged the dog to sit on the seat next to them despite the women asking him to move the dog.

He immediately became aggressive towards them saying ‘Do you want me to make it bite you?’ Fearing for their safety the three sisters moved carriages but were followed by Nicholls who told his dog ‘bite them’.

He then sat opposite them, tormenting them further with his dog, before standing up and snatching one of the sister’s phones.

The phone was taken back but Nicholls became increasingly aggressive to them and then racially abused them.

Just before he left the train at Redditch he turned back to the sisters and threatened to ‘slaughter them’ when he left the train.

The three sisters were too frightened to leave the train and were supported by staff and other passengers. Nicholls was waiting outside Redditch station but left a short while later.

Nicholls appeared before Worcester Magistrates’ Court on October 26 where he was handed an eight week prison sentence.

He was also handed an additional twelve weeks prison sentence for breaching other suspended sentences.

Investigating officer PC Piotr Gass from British Transport Police, said: ‘This was a terrifying ordeal for these three sisters.

Nicholls was acting in an outrageous way, threatening to set his dog on them and being racially abusive.

‘I would like to thank the public for their help in identifying Nicholls and bringing him to justice.

They played a vital role in putting him behind bars. Likewise, the sisters were incredibly brave in challenging his disgraceful actions and recording him on their smartphones. This meant we had vital evidence in prosecuting him.

‘It is never OK to be targeted because of your ethnicity or religion. We will never tolerate it and we continue to urge victims and witnesses to report incidents on the railway to us.

I hope this sentence sends a clear message that we will investigate crime and will always strive for the toughest of sentencings.’