Fiery 'Basil Balti' curry house owner in court over John Cleese-like verbal attack on customers

The owner, Sheikh Ullah, began waving his arms and shouting at the top of his voice.

"You make me sick," he declared, before adding: "You b******s – you're all the same. You are f****** rubbish."

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The incident at the Koh-i-Noor restaurant in Newport, South Wales, was described in court when Ullah admitted using threatening words with intent to cause alarm or distress.

The argument blew up after a customer, Kay McCarthy, fell in the lavatory and cut her head, Newport Crown Court was told.

Prosecutor Ieuan Bennett said that businessman Mike Follett and his wife Deborah felt the restaurant was not doing enough to help the injured woman.

Mr Follett, 41, "told Ullah to call an ambulance and to record what had happened in the restaurant's accident log book.

"Ullah was rather dismissive and wanted the injured woman ushered out of his restaurant."

After dialling 999 for an ambulance themselves, the Folletts got up to leave the restaurant, said Mr Bennett. "Because Mrs Follett hadn't eaten her main course they decided to pay £30 for the food they had been given. The full bill was £47.

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"Ullah told them they should pay for the entirety of their food whether they had eaten it or not – and didn't accept any responsibility for the lady who had fallen in the toilet.

"He lost his temper and became abusive to Mrs Follett shouting, 'You are f***ing rubbish'.

"He was waving his arms around and being abusive. Mrs Follett was extremely upset by what happened."

The court heard that Ullah, 55, also shouted: "You make me sick" and "You b******s – you're all the same", before locking the doors of the restaurant and refusing to let them leave.

Ullah was given an absolute discharge and ordered to pay £95 prosecution costs after Andrew Jones, defending, said the remarks were out of character and he regretted losing his temper.

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Mr Jones said that Ullah, who left Bangladesh in 1968, had established a mosque in the town at a disused church and received a good citizenship award from the mayor.

His citation said: "He has shown exemplary dedication and contribution to the Bangladeshi community.

"He has devoted his time to achieve integration of his minority population with the community of Newport at large."

On its website, the Koh-I-Noor describes itself as one of Newport's most popular Asian restaurants and tandoori houses.

It says: "The relaxed, friendly atmosphere of our restaurants together with excellent service is something we take great pride in."

However, one of his customers said: "This man has a reputation for being as fiery as some of his curries. He has been nicknamed Basil Balti – but not everyone sees the funny side.

"It can be upsetting when you get shouted at when you are out enjoying a meal with friends and family. Let's just hope this will calm him down."