She said the couple “both turned their anger towards me, getting really close, within touching distance to my face”.
The woman pushed Mr Bairstow away and said, “don’t touch me”, to which he responded, “are you homeless and sticking up for immigrants, who do you think you are?”
She said she was unsure at one point whether Mr Bairstow was “pointing or doing a Nazi German salute”.
Mr Davies told the court the prosecution say it is “clear” from the CCTV that he puts his hand up, but it “can’t be definitively seen what he is doing”.
Mrs Bairstow was shouting and moved towards the woman, and the couple were trying to get to Ms Moorhouse, but the woman tried to stop them by pushing the pair away, the court heard.
The woman said Mr Bairstow then punched her to the left side of her face.
A video clip of the racist attack went viral online and the prosecution had hoped to play during the last hearing, but was unable to do so due to technical issues.
The case was adjourned until April 16 for a pre-sentence report to be shared, and the couple were bailed, with conditions not to go to Manor Heath Park or contact Ms Moorhouse and the other woman.
Mr Hussain, for the defence, didn’t present any mitigation at that stage.
He talked through his submissions on which categories he felt the offences fall into, in terms of sentencing.
He asked if the judge was of the mind to adjourn the matter for an all options pre-sentence report.
Apple Moorhouse speaking to the media outside Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court after the hearing on March 11 (Image: Telegraph & Argus)
Speaking outside court after the hearing, Ms Moorhouse, who is a British citizen, said she feels less safe after the incident and “keeps looking over my shoulder”.
She added: “It’s a big thing, racism, and it needs to be dealt with.
“I’ve been here since 2009 and never had anything like this before, for 10 years, it was fine but now it’s got worse.
“I used to work in healthcare and I wanted to go back but I felt scared … this happened and I just didn’t go back.
“Caring was my passion but then this happened and it was hard to go back.”
A reminder that a magistrates’ court works slightly differently to a crown court.
In magistrates’ court, cases are listed either for the morning or afternoon.
There is no specific time, other than that any involved parties should be at court for 9.30am for a 10am start or 1.30pm for a 2pm start – from this point, the order of cases heard depends on who is available, how long that particular case may take as opposed to another, and other variable factors.
NOTE: The order is no reflection on any of the cases, it is merely a logistical decision/approach.
Usually, there is a bench of magistrates (three normally) who provided judgement on cases with the help of a legal advisor.
This is because magistrates are not trained like a judge at crown court and are volunteers.
Sometimes an actual judge may sit in the court, which is what happened at the last hearing – this was District Judge Alexander Boyd.
However, today it looks like we’ve got three magistrates sitting.
Currently a different case is being heard, so I’ll keep you updated when we’re on.
To help me type at speed, when we do get going, as you may have seen in my crown court live blogs, I may shorten the defendants’ names to FB (Fyona Bairstow) and MB (Michael Bairstow).
Same may apply for anyone mentioned in the case – such as the judge (J) or Apple Moorhouse (AM).
I will allude to this beforehand if I have time to make it clear.
The magistrates have just left to deliberate this current case.
These are the counsel teams today (you’ll notice a change on the prosecution):
Prosecution: Fiona Tannock
Defence: Raza Hussain
These names will be shortened too if needed:
Prosecution: FT
Defence: RH
I’m told that we should be up next after this, as the case currently on has bled over from the morning session – something that often happens.
Here’s a full list of our coverage on this so far:
Victim of racist attack feels ‘scared’ and unable to go back to job in healthcare
Pensioner said ‘go back to your dinghy’ as duo racially abused woman in viral video
RECAP: Pensioners plead guilty to racially abusing woman in park
Names of two pensioners who allegedly racially abused woman in park
We’re still waiting here.
In the meantime here’s some more photos of the defendants from the last hearing.
Fyona Bairstow and Michael Bairstow arriving at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court on March 11 (Image: Telegraph & Argus)
Michael and Fyona Bairstow leaving Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court, now with face coverings on, on March 11 (Image: Telegraph & Argus)
All media tried to ask the couple for a comment as they left the court but they refused.
That case has been dealt with now.
Fyona Bairstow and Michael Bairstow are coming into court now.
Mr Bairstow is dressed in cord trousers with a green jacket.
Mrs Bairstow is in a pink shirt with a jacket.
They confirm their names, date of births and addresses.
Prosecution stands now.
Matter goes back to August 28, 2025.
1.20pm on August, Ms Apple Moorhouse at the park with her parents and children.
Sheltered under trees due to rain.
Dog of defendants’ approached and it jumped at them.
Ms Moorhouse said the dog should be on a lead, due to concern for children.
MB said to the dog “get her” and “to kill”
FB began to mock Ms Moorhouse’s father as he couldn’t speak English and making references to slavery
Trying to grab AM phone
FB said “go back to your dinghy”, before repeatedly saying “go back”
AM told them she was a British citizen and the couple told her to “f*** off”.
AM pushed FB away from her causing her to fall.
FB pulled AM’s ponytail as she tried to get away.
Another woman intervened and MB made reference to her looking homeless then punched her
AM attended accident and emergency
superficial injuries to her neck as well as a muscle strain to her left side and bruising to her left side where she was grabbed.
Both interviewed, FB said she was acting in self-defence, and AM was threatening throughout
MB said similar and said AM threw water and then said it was self-defence and that AM had threatened to stab him
Watching some video clips now
MB has his head bowed
His head in his hands
FB falls to the floor in this clip – she is watching on in court.
Footage continues showing after AM walks away.
Final clip shows the interaction with the other woman “touch me again I’ll rip your f****** d*** off” and says “you racist piece of s***”.
She refers to him as a “skinhead” in this clip.
Context, the woman was stood in front of AM as MB tried to get to her
The crown does not condone any of the language used by either party but following the clip, MB went on to punch the woman to the cheek.
Sentencing guidelines now being touched on
Says it is aggravated by being in front of children but also mandatory aggravation uplift due to the racist nature.
Starting point of low level community order to high level community order
No previous convictions that have material impact on sentencing
MB’s last appearance in court was 1991
Seeking compensation for both victims
£85 in prosecution costs for each defendant
Defence speaking now
Serious matters and aware of presence of racial language used
Has custody threshold been crossed, particularly in case of MB, defence wants to dissuade from this
Defendants pleaded guilty at earliest opportunity
Place in the context, not planned nor pre-meditated, “it arose from what it is at its core, a rapid escalating” situation
MB and FB fully accept the remarks and racist comments they made were deeply inappropriate and they regret
Doesn’t excuse their actions
Spontaneous incident, loss of control and breakdown in behaviour
No injuries caused to the other woman and injuries for AM were a side strain and another
MB worked throughout life and living on pension, health is poor, number of conditions – chronic and require ongoing management. Custody would be difficult for him.
Primary care giver for FB
FB left school with initial intention of going into medical profession and becoming a nurse but suffered a head injury which stopped this
Suffers from cognitive issues, memory issues and depressions – would struggle in custodial setting and she is a “vulnerable woman”
FB has told probation the incident may have been impacted by her cognitive function
Not choosing to act in a calculated way, moment of anger and loss of control and struggled to process it properly
Married for three decades and lived in Halifax quietly
“They are ashamed to find themselves before the court, the incident has had a profound effect on them.”
Fact the video was spread virally and on national news, it has caused “significant embarrassment”.
Prosecution now
AM victim personal statement – from January 9, 2026
“During the course of this incident I was scared for my life and rang police for help.”
Looks over her shoulder now as time passes it gets better
“I will get over it eventually”
Carries a panic button with her as she thinks the family may come back to her after everything
Knows she must get back to normality at some point but the months after the attack were very tough.
Legal advisor giving some advice to the magistrates’ now – this is very quick mind and a lot of jargon so you’re not missing much.
Main magistrate speaks now
“My personally first instinct is it’s deeply sickening and the point is usually with age and aging usually comes wisdom and kindness.”
“That kind of attitude and those words and the things you’ve said to AM are not something that come out in a second, they’re something that are deep-rooted.”
MB shakes his head and she tells him not to interupt.
“Somebody that can be so vile and aggressive to somebody as this young woman here I can only think you are extremely ashamed both of you.”
“I’m glad you’re hanging your head.”
Says she will be extremely fair to them but wanted to pass on that message.
Feels sickened for AM and the brave woman who went to try stop it
She says they should be deeply ashamed.
MB: “We are ashamed”
Ms Moorhouse has arrived in the courtroom with her husband. She hadn’t been here until now.
She is sat at the back.
It’s extremely busy in here – often it’s lawyers waiting for other cases but there are also other interested parties in this case.
The Bairstows keep muttering to each other.
Still waiting here – thought I heard some noise from the backroom but nothing yet.
The legal advisor has left the room again.
He’s come back in and now gone back out with his laptop.
Been waiting almost an hour now for a decision – apologies, I forgot to say directly that the three magistrates’ had left, although the head of the trio implied that when she said she would be extremely fair to them when giving some scathing comments towards the couple.
They’re back now.
The Bairstows remain standing.
Prison staff have come into the room.
Magistrates’ agree this falls into medium level community order, but taking into account high level racial aggravation, find it passes the custodial threshold.
12 weeks in prison – reasons for not suspending is appropriate to impose immediate custodial sentence for a matter this serious
Down to eight weeks for guilty plea.
AM – £350
Other woman got money too.
The Bairstows receive eight weeks each in prison
AM is understandably emotional and is crying at the back of the court.
The Bairstows looked shellshocked.
We’ll head outside to try speak to her so keep an eye out for that later if we do.
‘You must be extremely ashamed’ – Pensioners sent to prison for racist abuse