A Hayes man who wrote ‘Death to Allah’ on a plane’s armrest and an Islamophobic note to two Arabic passengers has been spared jail.

Business class passenger Joseph Breslin, 36, was onboard a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to London Heathrow when he vandalised the plane by scribbling on the seat, Isleworth Crown Court heard.

Meanwhile, the note said: “Death to Allah. F*** the rag-heads.”

He dropped it between two people on the flight while cabin crew who witnessed what pub landlord Breslin wrote on July 8 were "shocked", the court heard.

Although fellow passengers Muneera Al-Gahtari and Salem Omar Shamlam could not read English, it was when the note was translated to them that they felt terrified.

The damage caused to the armrest was around £983, and the total cost to the airline – in addition to not being able to use the seat – was £3,604.

Prosecutor Ravinder Johal said: “As he left his seat he approached two other passengers and placed a note on the table between the two seats.

“It was clearly provocative and designed to elicit a response from those two Arabic complainants.”

Breslin, who was returning from honeymoon with his pregnant wife, was seen writing on the armrest in pen by a flight attendant after the plane had landed, and seen dropping the note by another.

Jeremy Wainwright, defending, said the defendant was "extremely remorseful" and a "pillar of the community".

Breslin sobbed in court as character statements written by several people were read out by Mr Wainwright and how he subsequently lost his licence to sell alcohol.

He was sentenced to a community order and ordered to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work.

In addition, he has been ordered to pay £3,604 in damages and £300 towards prosecution costs.

Judge Recorder Bruce Houlden QC said Breslin had been complaining earlier in the flight about the service onboard, however nothing in his actions were justifiable.

He added: “It is difficult to think of a phrase, particularly in these times, more offensive and more inflammatory than those words coming from a grown man who should have known better.”

But the judge said he could spare Breslin jail because of his good character, and added: “I have no doubt that you have been of immense benefit to your local community.

"I accept too that you are remorseful.

"It is clear that you had just got married, you were bringing your wife back to the country. She was pregnant.

“Your business was under strain. And that was something that was very much on your mind.

“And you had recently given up smoking. For a number of other reasons, you were under considerable stress.”

Breslin, of Station Approach, admitted to two counts of racially or religiously aggravated harassment and one count of racially aggravated criminal damage.