AN angry tenant threatened to kill a takeaway boss when he refused to turn on the water supply because his restaurant had flooded, a court heard.

Ryan Thompson, who lived above the Five Star Take Away in Halliwell, went to confront Muhammed Iqbal waving a metal bar at him after the restaurant owner said he would not turn the water back on until his shop was cleaned up.

Thompson swore at the takeaway owner, who heard him shout: “I’m going to kill you.”

The incident occurred a week last Sunday at about 3.30pm, Bolton Mgistrates Court was told.

Thompson’s girlfriend had called the landlord of the building, in St George’s Road, after Mr Iqbal refused to turn the water back on.

She left the restaurant, and soon after Thompson appeared holding a metal bar with tape around one end, shouting racist comments.

Nicola Ormerod, prosecuting, said: “The complainant describes that the defendant was angry. The female said, ‘calm down, go back upstairs’.

“Mr Iqbal heard him shouting, ‘I’m going to kill you’.”

The court head that Mr Iqbal had not heard Thompson say anything racist, but the defendant later told police he had racially abused him.

The defendant, described as “vulnerable” by defence lawyer Adam Whittaker, admitted shouting, swearing and making racist comments, but said he denied threatening to kill Mr Iqbal.

Thompson, aged 28, of Dreyton Close, Halliwell, pleaded guilty to a racially aggravated public order offence. He was bailed but was told he must not return to the takeaway.

He must instead stay at his girlfriend’s mother’s home before being sentenced on September 17.

Mr Whittaker said: “He is not a man of violence. He got frustrated and annoyed.

“He shouted by his own admission and upgraded the offence by telling the police about the racial abuse.

“He is embarrassed. It is completely out of character.”