Jail for woman who racially abused people in Rotherham
The 57 year old targeted several people last year
Last updated 22nd Jul 2021
A Rotherham woman has been jailed after being been found guilty of carrying out a campaign of racial harassment in the town last year.
Barbara Aitchison, 57, of The Lanes, was arrested after several incidents which took place in March and June 2020.
She subjected her victims to verbal and physical abuse, following them to work and threatening them on multiple occasions.
One one occasion she assaulted one of the victims.
Aitchison was found guilty of racially aggravated harassment and racially aggravated common assault at an earlier hearing and today was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison at Sheffield Magistrates Court.
She's also been handed a restraining order forbidding her from contacting the victims.
PC Chris Nicholson, of South Yorkshire Police, said:
“Aitchison’s victims lived in fear and ended up being afraid to leave their homes in case they were confronted.
“This was a prolonged and drawn out series of offences which has had a significant impact on the victims, who have been repeatedly racially abused and harassed.
“We are pleased that Aitchison has received a custodial sentence alongside her restraining order, it sends a signal that this type of criminality will be dealt with.
“Any form of hate crime or abuse is totally unacceptable and I want people to know that where these kind of offences are committed, and where we can gather supporting evidence, South Yorkshire Police will pursue justice.”