TORY MP Bob Stewart was found guilty today at Westminster magistrates’ court of a racially aggravated public order offence after he told an activist to “go back to Bahrain” during a protest in central London last December.

Mr Stewart, the MP for Beckenham in south-east London, also told Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (Bird) activist Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei: “You’re taking money off my country, go away!” outside the Foreign Office’s Lancaster House in Westminster on December 14 last year.

The 74-year-old had been attending an event hosted by the Bahraini embassy.

Protester Mr Alwadaei shouted: “Bob Stewart, for how much did you sell yourself to the Bahraini regime?”

Mr Stewart replied: “Go away, I hate you. You make a lot of fuss. Go back to Bahrain.”

In footage played during a trial at Westminster magistrates’ court today, he also said: “Now shut up, you stupid man.”

Paul Jarvis, prosecuting, said: “He (Stewart) demonstrated racial hostility towards Mr Alwadaei by way of his comments.”

Mr Jarvis told the court Mr Stewart later said he “regretted” the comments and that he should have ignored the protester but denies the comments were racist.

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring said if Mr Stewart is found guilty his offences are non-custodial (he would not face prison time).

Mr Alwadaei, who said he is living in exile after being tortured in the Gulf state, told the court that he was exercising his right to protest by questioning Mr Stewart and had not intended to insult the MP.

He accused Mr Stewart of being financed by Bahrain and of acting as a “well-known defender” of the regime, the court heard.

Asked how he felt after their exchange, Mr Alwadaei said: “I feel that I was dehumanised, like I was someone who is not welcome in the UK.

“Because of my skin colour, because of where I came from, he feels I am taking money from his country.”

Mr Alwadaei went on to say if he did return to Bahrain, he would “undoubtedly be killed and tortured.”

Parliamentary records show Mr Stewart registered flights, accommodation and meals worth £5,349 during a four-day trip to Bahrain last November and a separate trip worth £1,245.56 to visit an air show and meet its foreign minister.

Both trips were paid for by the Bahraini government.

Mr Stewart kept the Tory whip after being charged with a racially aggravated public order offence, which he denies.

The trial is expected to conclude today after the Star goes to print.