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A woman assaulted a Jehovah's Witness and called her a 'white b***h' as she handed out leaflets in Huddersfield town centre.

The appalling attack happened outside Primark on June 30 last year and lasted for 30 minutes.

Sandra Joseph lost her temper and hurled racist abuse at the terrified woman after she refused to let her grab more leaflets off her.

The 58-year-old was found guilty following a trial of racially-aggravated threatening behaviour to cause fear of unlawful violence.

Prosecutor Alex Bozman said that the victim was stood with her husband manning a stall outside the New Street shop.

Shortly before 2pm they were handing out leaflets when Joseph appeared, with whom the victim had some previous history.

Her husband left the stall briefly to help another woman who appeared upset and Joseph, of Brownroyd Avenue in Rawthorpe, attempted to take more leaflets than she was allowed to take.

Mr Bozman told Kirklees magistrates: “She (the victim) put her hand out to try and prevent her from taking any more and accidentally made contact with Joseph's hand.

“At that point Joseph said: 'Don't you touch me you white b***h' and hit her in the chest.

“The abuse continued. She shouted: 'I'm going to deck you. I'm going to take you out you white b***h'.”

Joseph continued to hurl abuse at the victim. Her husband came back and tried to calm the situation down and Joseph briefly left.

She soon returned and shouted at the victim again before leaving the area. The whole incident lasted for 30 minutes, Mr Bozman said.

The complainant said that she'd known Joseph for 10 years and there were previous issues with her attending the same Kingdom Hall (of Jehovah's Witnesses) as herself.

She said in a victim impact statement read out to the court: “I've been left feeling upset and scared.

“I'm scared to come into town on my own. This was an unprovoked attack and I don't deserve the racial abuse.”

Magistrates sentenced Joseph to a six month community order with 15 days of rehabilitation activities aimed at addressing her offending behaviour.

She was ordered to pay £310 prosecution costs plus £85 victim surcharge.

Magistrates made a restraining order banning Joseph from communicating with the victim for a year.