DURING a prolonged incident at a Salvation Army hostel, a resident levelled vile racist abuse, with threats of violence, against a Bulgarian receptionist after she refused to call a takeaway about his order.

Michael Wilson, 55, looks likely to have lost his accommodation at Fellowship House, Ryde, after he admitted using racially aggravated threatening and abusive words and behaviour, to cause alarm and distress, provoking a fear of violence, on July 2.

The victim, on duty at the hostel's front desk, was confronted by Wilson, who became irate when she said she knew nothing of a takeaway meal he ordered.

"He then demanded she contact the takeaway establishment. When she said she wouldn't, he started shouting," said Ann Smout, prosecuting, at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court.

Wilson demanded his food — directing vile insults at her, assuming she was Polish.

"She told him not to speak to her like that, but he continued the tirade — ranting and banging his fist on the counter," Mrs Smout added.

"He then demanded she open his room as he did not have his key. As she walked down the hall, with Wilson ahead of her, he continued his vile racist abuse."

Wilson told his victim, a Bulgarian: "Open the door or I'll smash your face in."

When she threatened to call the police, he said he didn't care. The incident lasted about 20 minutes.

The victim said: "I felt he was going to assault me numerous times. I'm from Bulgaria and found his racist language very distressing. He targeted me because I am eastern European.

"I was frightened. He was vile and abusive because of my nationality. His racially abusive comments made me feel very small and they really upset me."

Wilson initially refused to answer any of the police's questions, then denied he had made any racist comments against the woman and claimed she was lying.

He told officers it wasn't racist calling someone a 'Polish xxxx'.

"It is not the first time he has committed an offence of that nature — a hate crime," said Mrs Smout.

"His threatening behaviour and sustained racist abuse continued — even when the lady was trying to help him."

For Wilson, Oscar Vincent said: "He doesn't excuse what he did. He isn't seeking to hide behind any justification for his behaviour.

"A lot of issues had been building up — threats from fellow hostel residents. He reported them to staff, but nothing had been done.

"That night, having not eaten all day, he ordered and paid for a takeaway, but when he went to collect it, the premises was closed and his frustrations boiled over the way they did.

"He stresses he isn't racist and, if he's able to see the victim again, he wants to apologise directly to her.

"It is likely he will have, as a result of his one-off behaviour, been rendered homeless."

His criminal record includes a racially aggravated public order offence from 2010.

Magistrates handed Wilson a 12-month probation order, to include alcohol treatment and ten rehabilitation activity sessions, with a £120 fine, £85 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.