A 21-YEAR-OLD Blackburn man known as 'Barbarian,' who racially abused the manager of a hostel for young women, has been jailed for 35 days by Blackburn magistrates.

The court heard that Imran Ali repeatedly attended the former YWCA on East Park Road and shouted racist comments towards Wayne King and other members of staff.

On one occasion he said he was 'marching' on Saturday and would "sort out the dirty Israelis."

On another he said: "We're going to take over your country" and added a description of what they would do to white women.

Ali, 21, of Neath Close, had pleaded not guilty to racially aggravated harassment but was convicted after a trial.

The magistrates passed sentence after reading pre-sentence reports. The court heard that Ali became a regular visitor at the hostel, where he caused problems with members of staff.

Mr King kept notes of the incidents at the hostel and recorded the comments made by Ali.

Basharat Ditta, defending, said the issue at the trial had been whether his client was the person known as 'Barbarian.'

He said: "He has been convicted but he does not accept that he is guilty."

Mr Ditta said the incident went back to November 2001 and it was significant that there had been no further offences since.

"He accepts going to the hostel on a number of occasions because he had friends there, but he has always denied going there with a racist intention," added Mr Ditta.