Muslim store manager abused by customer: “I’ll slap that hijab off your face”

The Daily Mail reports on the court appearance of a woman accused of abusing a Muslim store manager at a central London shop telling her “I’ll slap that hijab off your face.”

Ellie Simpson, 21, appeared before Westminster Magistrates Court on one charge of using threatening or abusive words and behaviour on September 26 2015 after she was alleged to have verbally abused a staff member at the River Island store on Oxford Street.

The court heard that Simpson, who was heavily pregnant at the time, went to the store to collect an online order and was told that it had not yet arrived. Angered by the delay, she allegedly told a member of staff “You’d better find my parcel if you don’t want me to kick off”.

Simpson is alleged to have called Salma Begum a “f***ing b****.” The court heard that Simpson was offered the option of purchasing the item in store on the day with a refund option on her online order but persisted with a rant against staff.

The court heard the Simpson walked up close to the victim, raised her right hand and said: “What would you do if I slapped you?”.

She is alleged to have referred to the victim’s religious attire saying “I’m going to slap that hijab off your face.”

The terrified victim retreated to the store room while the security guard was called to the situation. Simpson was removed from the store still “screaming and shouting”.

Police arrested Simpson on January 19 in connection with the incident after her details were taken from the online order.

At Westminster Magistrates court this week, Simpson entered a not guilty plea. She has been barred from entering River Island on Oxford Street until her trial at City of London Magistrates’ Court on 1 December 2016.