Sign up to the Hull Live newsletter for daily updates and breaking news Sign up here! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A man says he fears for his life after being subjected to tirades of racial abuse.

Grzegorz Miekota, who lives off Spring Bank, says he has been chased down Princes Avenue by a gang shouting racist abuse and threatening to kill him.

Those in the Polish community believe there has been an increase in hostility since the UK chose to leave the EU.

Mr Miekota said: “I have lived at my home for four years and I have never had any problems or trouble.

“In the last couple of weeks it has really escalated and I have suffered from racial abuse. They threatened to kill me and I immediately called the police.

“Then on Saturday, three men chased me down Princes Avenue and were shouting Polish b****** and Polish d*** ****. I felt I could have died that evening and I called the police again.”

Mr Miekota, a recovering alcoholic who now helps people overcome their drink problems, is so terrified he has been staying with friends.

He said: “I feel wary and constantly believe my life is in danger.”

Mr Miekota, a butcher by trade, came to Hull in 2006 to make a living and a better life for himself despite struggling with alcoholism.

He said: “I had a major problem and drink ruled my life. It affected both my professional and private life. But in 2011 there was a turning point and I decided to go on a detox and therapy course."

Mr Miekota says he is frustrated with the time taken by the police to deal with his concerns.

He said: “So far the police haven’t come to see me. I don’t know whether it is the language barrier that is slowing things down but this needs to be addressed."

A spokeswoman for the Hull Polish Community Centre believes hostility towards Eastern Europeans is increasing.

She said: “We know Mr Miekota well and he is not easily scared. He never usually comes to us about this sort of thing but it has really affected him.

“We have people telling us to go back to our own country but we rarely get threats to kill like this.

“There is a lot of apprehension among the Polish community since Brexit. There is increased hostility and we are also worried about our future in the UK.”

Humberside Police have confirmed they are investigating Mr Miekota's claims.

A spokesman said: "We were called at 11am on July 3 reporting threats to a resident. We subsequently received a call on July 8 from the resident to say they had now made racist comments to him.

"We plan to meet with the victim and investigate the allegations made.

"People have a right to live in their homes without fear and intimidation by others and we investigate reports of hate incidents."

If you see, or are the victim of, racist abuse, call the non-emergency number 101.