A MAN threatened to burn down a shop below his flat in a series of racist messages sent to his landlord’s agent, a court heard.

Magistrates were told that Nathaniel Rhys Davies sent a number of threatening messages to the man threatening actions because he ‘doesn’t like immigrants’.

South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court in Barrow heard the 25-year-old had been frustrated with activity in a shop below his flat in Church Street.

He pleaded guilty to two charges of sending an offensive message when he appeared before the court.

Prosecutor Lee Dacre described how the defendant sent a number of messages May 22 and again on June 10.

Davies told his landlord’s agent: “I don’t like immigrants.

"I support Brexit.

"The less of them the better. They’re taking our jobs.

“I will burn the place down.”

Mr Dacre said the recipient of the message was ‘anxious and worried about the threats that were made’.

The landlord’s agent then sent the defendant a message asking him to pay for rent arrears.

In response, he said: “You do not tell me what to do, right.”

Karen Templeton, defending, said the defendant had a number of mental health issues including ADHD and anxiety.

“The situation is Mr Davies does suffer from a personality disorder.

“He has a tendency to speak before he thinks. He’s absolutely adamant he never had any intention to carry out the threats.”

Magistrates sentenced Davies to 250 hours of unpaid work for the offences.