Two women subjected their Asian neighbour to a torrent of racial abuse after they became irritated by her playing Bollywood music in her back garden.
A court heard that Deborah Holden, 58, told Kauser Parveen to turn off off her ‘P**i music’ whilst 34-year-old Kirsty Law labelled the victim a ‘prostitute’.
During their 20-minute tirade the pair – who had been drinking wine for up to six hours – shouted a string of sick insults at Miss Parveen over her garden fence because of the Hindi film songs she was listening to.
As Miss Parveen’s partner urged them to calm down, the two women called the victim a ‘slag’ and a ‘dirty disgusting pig’ and ‘f***ing P**i s***.’ They were also heard saying ‘we have had enough- for years we have had it.’
Deborah Holden, 58, and Kirsty Law, 34, have admitted to the racially aggravated harassment of their neighbour Kauser Parveen after demanding she turn off off her ‘P**i music’ while she was in the back garden of her Rochdale home
In a statement Miss Parveen, from Middleton, near Rochdale, Greater Manchester told police: ‘This incident made me feel extremely upset. I do not expect to be treated in this way and feel I have been degraded both as a woman and as a human being.
‘I have mental health issues and had a health scare at the time for which I had to go through several tests. I did not need this stress when I had so much going on already.’
At Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester, Holden, a full time carer for her elderly mother, and mother-of-three Law who live two doors from each other admitted racially aggravated harassment and were each ordered to complete a 18 month community order.
Both claimed they had endured previous trouble with Miss Parveen with Holden claiming she had suffered ‘nine years of hell’.
Prosecutor Miss Clare Brocklebank said: ‘Miss Parveen who is Ms Holden’s immediate neighbour was sitting in the back of her garden at around 7.30pm listening to Asian music when Holden shouted “shut your P**i music up” and called her a prostitute’
Holden said she had only just bought her council home under the Government’s right to buy scheme and if she sold up now would have to repay various discounts she was entitled too. Neither were made subject to a restraining order.
The incident occurred on April 11 after Holden invited Law around for drinks between 1pm and 5pm. Prosecutor Miss Clare Brocklebank said: ‘Miss Parveen who is Ms Holden’s immediate neighbour was sitting in the back of her garden at around 7.30pm listening to Asian music when Holden shouted “shut your P**i music up” and called her a prostitute.
‘She told her “you sell your body” and called her a “P**i b******”. Ms Law also called her a prostitute. The victim’s partner was present and told everyone to calm down but Law said she would have to get over the fence and “get her” while continuing to make remarks about the victim, calling her a prostitute and claiming she had STDs.
‘Over a period of around 20 minutes, the defendants can be heard calling the victim a “slag”, “dirty disgusting pig” and “f***ing P**i s***”. They can be heard saying “we have had enough – for years we have had it”.
Ms Law also called her a prostitute. The victim’s partner was present and told everyone to calm down but Law said she would have to get over the fence and “get her” while continuing to make remarks about the victim
‘When interviewed by police the defendants did not deny the offending and said there had been ongoing history with the neighbour. Holden claimed she had been through ‘nine years of hell’ at the hands of the victim and said she had been drinking at the time.
‘Law does not live at the property but was at Ms Holden’s home and they were drinking from 1pm- 5pm. She said she was defending Ms Holden but was sorry for what she had done.’
Holden had 40 previous convictions on her record including public order matters whilst Law has nine offences on her record including public order, being drunk and disorderly, criminal damage and cannabis possession.
In mitigation Holden’s lawyer Joanne Shepherd said: ‘A restraining order if imposed is unworkable as they are neighbours. In my submission there is a danger the victim will use it to try and get the defendant to breach it. She has been on the receiving end of 11 years of poor treatment by the victim and a restraining order is not proportionate.
‘She is ashamed of herself and remorseful of her behaviour on that day, which was committed against a background of alcohol misuse. In June this year she reported the victim to police after an incident and was given a police log number- that matter is still ongoing.
‘The defendant recently bought her property and must wait ten years before she is able to move. She is also a carer for her elderly mother.’
In mitigation for Law Stephen Munton said: ‘She is the sole carer for her three-year-old daughter and her daughter’s father tragically died only eight weeks ago. On the day in question she came round to Ms Holden’s and accepted the offer of alcohol, which did not mix well with her medication. She struggles with anxiety and depression. She has not shirked responsibility for her actions and accepts what she said was wrong.’
Sentencing Judge Angela Nield told the women: ‘This was a very ugly incident and unsavoury incident between both of you and a neighbour of Ms Holden. You both readily admit you had drunk alcohol on that day and that clearly had a significant effect, but nevertheless you both engaged in abusive conduct over the fence at your victim.
‘Racial abuse is wholly unacceptable and your gratuitous and offensive abuse you aimed at her made her feel degraded as a woman. She does not enjoy good mental health and your behaviour has not helped with the issues she faces. While there is a history of ill-feeling between Ms Holden and the victim that does not excuse the use of racist language.’