(Image: Frank Dwyer)
A LONG-TERM York resident is scared to leave his flat and is planning on leaving the city after a woman's racial abuse changed his neighbours' attitude towards him, magistrates heard.
Tracy Newton, 49, and the victim live in the same block of flats, said Martin Butterworth, prosecuting.
Newton had posted a notice in the block's communal hall where all the residents could see it claiming the man had converted to Islam and making racist comments about Muslim attitudes towards women and children.
She had also made comments online about him and Islam.
In a statement, the man described her actions as "horrific abuse" and said they had changed the atmosphere in the flats towards him.
"It was really social before," he said.
"Following the abuse, I feel I cannot go out. I have stopped going out. I feel worried about being attacked."
He said he had lived in the flat for 23 years and been in York for 30 years but was now looking to move back to Liverpool where he used to live.
"It is really sad to have to look at leaving a place like this," he said.
The abuse had affected his mental health and he struggled to sleep, he said.
The victim is in his sixties.
RECOMMENDED READING
- Racist abuse hurled at York theatre staff
- Man wanted after alleged racist and homophobic abuse on bus in York
- Woman hurls abuse at man in North Yorkshire town - police investigating hate crime
Newton, of Burnsall Drive, Holgate, pleaded guilty to posting racially aggravated words.
York magistrates ordered her to pay a total of £365, consisting of a £200 fine, an £80 statutory surcharge and £85 prosecution costs.
Defence solicitor Lee-Anne Robins-Hicks said Newton and the man had been friends but their relationship had broken down.
"She felt she had been taken advantage of and out of frustration while emotional, she accepts she lashed out at the complainant," said Mrs Robins-Hicks.
Newton had a borderline personality disorder which led to her behaving in an impulsive way, said the solicitor
Magistrates read a probation service report on Newton before passing sentence and said it was not clear how the service could help her in any way.