Disturbing video footage showing two elderly people subjecting a woman to racist abuse in a West Yorkshire green space has been made public after they were sentenced to time behind bars.
Fyona Bairstow, aged 72, and her husband Michael Bairstow, aged 77, received eight-week prison terms at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court last Thursday.
The pair had previously pleaded guilty to racially aggravated common assault at an earlier court hearing.
Michael Bairstow additionally admitted assault by beating after striking a woman who attempted to step in during the appalling incident.
The confrontation between the couple and Apple Moorhouse unfolded at Manor Heath Park in Halifax on August 28 this year.
The court was told that the pensioners directed racist abuse at her after Ms Moorhouse suggested their dog, which was loose and barking at her child, should be on a lead.
Shocking footage of the confrontation spread across social media following the racist assault and was shown during the sentencing hearing.
The Crown Prosecution Service has now published clips from this footage.
Ms Moorhouse, a healthcare professional who relocated to Britain from the Philippines in 2009, was at the park alongside her father and child. They had taken refuge beneath a tree as they prepared to leave when rainfall started.
The couple became hostile towards Ms Moorhouse after she pointed out their dog required a lead, the sentencing hearing was informed.
Prosecutor Richard Davies stated at the earlier hearing that their response was extremely aggressive, with Mr Bairstow instructing Ms Moorhouse to return to her dinghy while miming swimming movements at her.
The court was also told that Mr Bairstow commanded their dog to attack Ms Moorhouse before hurling a bowl of liquid in her direction while shouting about banning immigrants, and Mrs Bairstow subsequently seized her hair as she attempted to leave.
Another woman attempted to intervene, and she testified that at one moment she could not determine whether Mr Bairstow was gesturing or performing what appeared to be a Nazi salute.
Mr Davies explained to the court that the prosecution maintains the CCTV clearly shows him raising his hand, though the precise movement cannot be definitively identified.
Mr Bairstow then struck Ms Moorhouse to the left side of her face, the court heard.
In his closing arguments, Raza Hussain, representing the pair, stated the confrontation had not been planned in advance and they wholeheartedly acknowledge that the racial language they used was completely unacceptable and that they profoundly regret.
Mr Hussain added that extensive sharing of the incident across social media and national broadcast coverage has caused them considerable shame.
Following the sentencing, Ms Moorhouse expressed that the outcome demonstrates that everyone possesses equal worth and that racist behaviour constitutes a criminal offence. She expressed hope that this sends a firm indication that racial discrimination is unlawful.
She told journalists she had not anticipated the couple would receive a custodial sentence, stating she cannot claim to feel pleased about it and expressed sympathy for them.