A Muslim store manager was left cowering in fear when a shopper screamed ‘I’m going to slap that hijab off your face’ because her shoes had not arrived, a court heard.

Ellie Simpson, 21, launched into a tirade of abuse at Salma Begum when she was told her online delivery was delayed at the River Island shop on Oxford Street, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard.

Ms Begum offered to refund the order but heavily pregnant Simpson snarled: ‘F**king bitch,’ it is claimed.

The security guard was in the toilet when Simpson raised her right hand and asked Ms Begum: ‘What would you do if I slapped you?’.

The mother-of-one is accused of then moving in close to Ms Begum and shouting: ‘I’m going to slap that hijab off your face.’

The terrified retail manager ran and hid in the store room before security guards arrived and escorted Simpson off the premises screaming and shouting, it is said.

When police arrived they were able to find Simpson’s details from the order she had made.

She returned to the store a few days later to collect the shoes.

When Simpson was arrested on 19 January she denied being aggressive and told police: ‘I was with a friend who was being mouthy.’

Simpson denies using threatening or abusive words and behaviour on September 26 last year.

She has given birth since the alleged offence and had to bring her newborn child into court in its pram because she was unable to arrange for childcare.

Simpson kissed her teeth and began ranting in the dock as her baby cried, shouting: ‘This is bulls**t bruv, f**k’s sake bruv.’

She added: ‘How can there be a trial for something there’s no evidence of?’

Chair of the bench Jessica Baldwin said: ‘You have pleaded not guilty to this charge which is your right so there needs to be a trial.’

She added: ‘It’s important you have child care and it’s important you arrive on time on the day.’

Simpson, of Clapham Crescent, Clapham, southwest London, denies one count of threatening or abusive words and behaviour.

She has been barred from entering River Island on Oxford Street until her trial at City of London Magistrates’ Court on 1 December.