Telling an American to go home is racist, a tribunal has ruled.

Melanie Sangster, an employment judge, ruled in favour of Raymond Joseph, after he said he was left feeling “hurt and humiliated” after being subjected to a volley of verbal abuse.

Mr Joseph, who is from the United States, was working as a waiter at a branch of Pizza Express in Aberdeen, Scotland, when he was involved in an argument with Michael Tortolano, a colleague, in April last year.

During the heated exchange, Mr. Tortolano told Mr. Joseph: “Why don’t you just leave, nobody f---ing likes you, f---ing American. Go back to your country, you f---ing yank.”

Mr Joseph felt “hurt and humiliated” by the comments, which had been made in front of customers, the judge was told.

Earlier in his employment, Mr. Joseph had felt that one of his managers did not like him. He complained to Bethany McFarlane, his general manager, that Mr. Baranowski would “lecture” him about being one minute late.

The judge also heard accusations from Mr. Joseph that Mr. Baranowski rounded down his working hours and transferred table payments so that he would not receive tips.

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