London, Nov.5: A lorry driver who was sentenced to 150 hours' community service for a drunken racist assault, has been let off after probation chiefs claimed the punishment could breach EU working hours limits.

In a bizarre court hearing, probation bosses asked a judge to lift Elliot Carnell's sentence because they feared picking up litter would leave him too tired to drive his lorry safely.

Officials were quoted by the Daily Mail as saying that they were concerned Carnell, 37, from Eastbourne, East Sussex, might sue for compensation if he was injured in a road accident.

Carnell, who was convicted for attacking his ex-wife's Sri Lankan boyfriend, said that, although he had been willing to complete his sentence, he was 'bewildered but happy' by the verdict.

Last night, his ex-wife Suzanne Carnell, 34, criticised the decision, saying: "I'm really upset. It's not right.

"Now he's free to go to the pub drinking with his friends and causing trouble. He should have gone to jail. It's not a strong enough punishment. He must be laughing."

Lewes Crown Court heard how Carnell, who had drunk 15 pints of lager at a Christmas party, hurled racist abuse at Mr. Clarence Nesan before punching him six times in the head.

Mrs Carnell and her daughter, Kerry Potter, were also hit when they tried to intervene.

Carnell was given a six-month suspended sentence with 150 hours of unpaid work and ordered to attend alcohol-counselling sessions.

But when he arrived to pick up litter on his first day, officials said they were concerned the sentence might take him over the EU Working Time Directive of 48 hours and ordered him to stop.

They then took the case back to court and asked a judge to remove the work order. (ANI)