A man accused of posting racial comments on his Facebook site, following the tragic suicide of Bradford mother Sobia Yousef, is to fight the allegations against him.

Food shop worker Daniel Johnson, 27, yesterday pleaded not guilty to two charges when he appeared at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court, and a trial date was fixed.

Johnson, of Valley View, Baildon, denied causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress by using threatening or abusive words on Facebook on Tuesday, March 25.

He denies a further charge of displaying threatening or abusive writing likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress, on Facebook on the same date.

He is alleged to have posted the comments on his Facebook site after Mrs Yousef stabbed herself in the neck in front of shoppers and staff at the Asda store in Shipley on the morning of March 25.

Prosecutor Suzanne Paige said police investigated, after a member of the public in Bradford made an official complaint.

Johnson, who was removed from his job at Fultons Food in Shipley when his employers were made aware of the posts, was arrested and interviewed.

He told police that family and friends should have been the only people with access to his site.

Johnson spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth, during the 13-minute hearing.

His solicitor, Philippa Murray, said he accepted putting comments on part of his Facebook account available to a limited number of people, but it had been photographed and placed on a more public account.

Miss Murray said his argument was that the comments might not be abusive. She said her client was of good character.

District Judge Susan Bouch granted Johnson unconditional bail until his trial, but warned it would proceed in his absence if he did not attend.