A man who shouted “we will wipe you out” at strictly Orthodox worshippers who were walking to shul has been sentenced to 200 hours of unpaid work.

Glenn Okafor, 32, was also handed a 12-month community order at Stratford Magistrates’ Court today after being found guilty of two counts of using threatening or abusive language to cause alarm or distress which was religiously aggravated.

Okafor, from West Norwood in south London, would have received 150 hours of unpaid work, but this was increased to 200 hours under hate crime sentencing powers.

He shouted “f*** you Jewish people”, among other insults, to shul-goers on Shabbat on March 4 in Stamford Hill, north London.

He then said: “We will sort you out. I have friends. I’ll be back tomorrow. We will wipe you out.”

Giving evidence, Okafor said he had “approached a Jewish man just to ask them a few questions about the origin of Judaism as it's something I have been looking into”.

However, Alexander Gluck, one of the men approached by Okafor, told the court how the defendant had told him “we are the real Jews”.Chair of the bench Danni Tate said the comments were “racially aggravated and specifically targeted members of the Jewish community”.

Okafor was also ordered to pay his victims £150 each.

Jan Lamping, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS London North, said: “Stiffer sentences are a powerful way of sending the message that hate crime is viewed seriously in the eyes of the law.

“These were unacceptable, hostile words and threats directed at worshippers intended to make them fearful of their safety.

“I would encourage all victims to report hate crimes so that others do not become the target of hateful abuse.”