An Isle of Wight man on ‘very thin ice’ after racially harassing a police officer and sending offensive texts to his brother’s ex-girlfriend.

Frederick Medway, of Atherley Road in Shanklin, attended the Isle of Wight Magistrates’ Court on April 12 after previously pleading guilty to sending offensive messages and racially aggravated intentional harassment.

Lauren Stone, prosecuting, said the 32-year-old was arrested for unrelated reasons on July 19 last year and, after falling and breaking his wrist, was accompanied to St Mary’s Hospital by officers.

Ms Stone said Medway subjected a female officer to a barrage of offensive insults and name-calling.

The officer took offence at one name in particular and warned Medway she viewed it as a racially aggravated comment due to her ethnicity, but Medway continued in his slew of insults, the court heard.

Medway admitted calling the officer a name but insisting it was because she looked like a ‘skinny boy’, and not because of her ethnicity, said Ms Stone.

Later, on January 20, the court heard Medway sent several vile texts to his brother's then-girlfriend on January 20.

In a statement, Medway’s victim said she does not feel safe going out on her own and considered sending her child to live elsewhere due to his threats.

Oscar Vincent, defending, said his client is 'extremely vulnerable', after being involved in a road traffic accident in 2018, which left him with life-changing injuries.

For the July 19 offence, Mr Vincent said Medway accepts that his behaviour at the hospital was disgraceful.

Relating to the offensive messages, the court heard that Medway had hoped to say his goodbyes to an ill relative at Southampton General Hospital, but his brother and then-girlfriend had left him behind on the Island.

Mr Vincent said Medway phoned and discovered they were in TGI Friday, which angered him further.

Magistrates told Medway: “You should be disgusted with yourself and with the way you treat people. You very nearly went to custody today; it is really serious.”

Medway was handed a two-year community order and must pay £200 compensation to the police officer.

“You are on very, very thin ice,” magistrates added.