A man racially abused a shop worker after she used her radio to contact security staff, a court heard.

Lee Gumbrell allegedly made racist remarks to Resham Ghelani, a supervisor at the Disney Store in Churchill Square shopping centre, Brighton.

He also threatened to slash her face and sent toys flying after kicking a display stand, a jury at Hove Crown Court was told.

Gumbrell told police he felt he had been harassed by shop and security staff, who believed he was a shoplifter.

Jonathan Edwards, prosecuting, said Gumbrell had gone to the shopping centre with Kelly Town on October 18 last year.

Gumbrell became angry after seeing Miss Ghelani looking at him and using her radio as he walked past the Disney Store.

Mr Edwards said: "He walked towards her and asked her what her problem was. He made remarks about her racial origin and threatened to slash her face.

"As they left the store, Kelly Town said she knew where Miss Ghelani lived and that next time it would not be pretty."

Miss Ghelani told the court she was of Indian origin and had been the subject of racial abuse at various times in her life.

She said: "As they left the store, Town said she would slash my face and that she had seen me in Whitehawk before.

"Gumbrell said he would slash my face as well but it was mainly racist abuse from him."

Miss Ghelani used her radio to call for urgent assistance from Churchill Square security staff.

She said the incident had left her shocked and shaken.

Security controller Michael Seaward said the supervisor was shaking when he arrived at the store.

Gumbrell said in a police interview: "They think I am a shoplifter but I am not.

"Every time I walk past, the staff come out and use their radios to contact security. It does my head in."

Gumbrell, 21, of Swallow Court, Whitehawk, denies racially aggravated abuse.

Town, 24, of Haybourne Close, Whitehawk, denies using threatening words or behaviour.

The trial continues.