A Qatar Airways passenger who scrawled “death to Allah” on his armrest because he was unhappy with business class service is facing jail.

Joseph Breslin, 36, wrote the words after becoming “tired and irritated” on a flight into Heathrow Airport.

He then wrote an Islamophobic note on a napkin attacking Muslims wearing headscarves, dropping it between two passengers after the plane landed.

Isleworth crown court heard Breslin, who runs a pub in south London, targeted the pair because he believed one had been deliberately spraying perfume to annoy him.

“He was in the business class section and was complaining throughout the flight”, said prosecutor Bill McGivern. “As the plane was coming to land, one of the crew noticed him scribbling on the armrest of the seat.

“He then left his seat and went between two other passengers, leaving a note which was very derogatory towards people who wear headscarves and it said ‘death to Allah’.”

Mr McGivern said the note, in English, was translated to the passengers, who were left “frightened and terrified”. He added: “They had been travelling to this country and had this effectively thrust under their noses.” Complaints were made to staff and he was arrested as he got off the plane on July 8. Jeremy Wainwright, mitigating, said the incident was out of character: “He had become irritated by his fellow passengers, he felt in particular they appeared to have an attitude towards him.

“The last in question had been spraying perfume around, and he had perceived it was aimed at insulting him.

“The words on the armrest related to the plane service generally, and the fact he had become tired and irritated and that was directed at the airline.”

Breslin, from Bromley, pleaded guilty to two charges of religiously aggravated harassment and a count of religiously aggravated criminal damage.

Judge Annabel Darlow QC freed him on bail until sentencing on October 31, but warned him a prison sentence was likely. Asking for a report from the probation service, she said: “Nothing has been said which sheds any light on why Mr Breslin chose to behave in this extraordinarily offensive and unpleasant way.”