A married couple have admitted racially abusing a healthcare worker during an incident in a Halifax park that was widely shared online.
Fyona Bairstow, 72, and Michael Bairstow, 77, both of Shelf in Halifax, pleaded guilty at Bradford Magistrates’ Court to racially aggravated assault following the confrontation with Apple Moorhouse at Manor Heath Park on 28 August last year.
The court heard the incident began when the couple’s dog approached a child in the park and began barking. Moorhouse intervened and told the pair the dog should be kept on a lead.
Prosecutor Richard Davies said the situation quickly escalated. Michael Bairstow allegedly told his dog to “get her, kill”, before throwing a bottle of water towards Moorhouse, splashing her while shouting “ban immigrants”.
During the confrontation he also told Moorhouse to “go back to your dinghy”, a remark referencing migrants crossing the English Channel.
The court heard that when Moorhouse attempted to walk away, Fyona Bairstow grabbed her by the ponytail and pulled her backwards, causing her head to jerk back.
Another woman who attempted to intervene was also assaulted. Michael Bairstow punched the woman in the face and said: “Sticking up for immigrants, who do you think you are?”
The couple admitted racially aggravated assault, while Michael Bairstow also admitted assaulting the second woman who tried to help Moorhouse.
The case was adjourned until 16 April so the court can receive a pre-sentence report.
Both defendants were granted bail with conditions not to contact Moorhouse or visit Manor Heath Park.
After the hearing, Moorhouse said the attack had left her frightened and anxious and that she had not returned to work since the incident.
Moorhouse, who moved to the UK from the Philippines more than 15 years ago and is now a British citizen, said she no longer felt safe.
“I feel anxious obviously, every time that I think back, I feel upset,” she said outside court. “It’s a big thing, racism, and it needs to be dealt with.”
She added that she had lived in the UK since 2009 and had never experienced anything like the incident before.
“I used to work in healthcare and I wanted to go back but I felt scared,” she said. “Caring was my passion but then this happened and it was hard to go back.”
The court will consider sentencing after the pre-sentence report is completed.