Two sentenced for abuse at asylum seeker hotel

Two people have received suspended jail terms after admitting racially harassing asylum seekers at a Rotherham hotel, days before mass disorder at the site.

Debbie Walker told people inside the Holiday Inn Express at Manvers a "protest" was "starting now" on 31 July last year, Sheffield Magistrates' Court heard. Disorder broke out the following weekend.

Lee Frettsome told those inside "I don't like the colour of your skin or your people… your time will come," prosecutor Rob Coyne told the court on Wednesday.

Walker and Frettsome admitted racially or religiously aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress, and received community orders and nine-month sentences suspended for 18 months.

District Judge James Gould said the defendants, who have been in an on-and-off relationship for 25 years, "displayed little insight" into the harm they caused.

He said the fact they knew about events to come was "of note", given the context of mass violent disorder the following weekend, although they did not take part.

"You had been monitoring social media and no doubt seizing on distorted, unfounded and racially motivated views," he added.

"The abuse that you both issued was venomous."

Both Frettsome, 53, and Walker, 50, were "acting aggressively" to asylum seekers, witnesses said, with Walker heard saying "I will kill you all".

Walker, of Billingley View, Bolton-upon-Dearne, shouted a profanity about Allah at a security guard, said "I will come back" and banged on the glass with her fists.

A member of security staff said in a statement: "I haven't caused these people any upset. I don't understand what their intention is."

He said he was "saddened people want to take time out of their day to upset service users".

Erika Hradecka, defending, said Walker's 25-year history of mental ill health, including diagnoses of paranoid schizophrenia and Fregoli syndrome, meant she was "probably not fully aware of what she was doing".

She added that Frettsome, of Bateman Square, Thurnscoe, who served in the South African army in the 1980s, "says he is not racist, and he is ashamed and remorseful".

Judge Gould said the couple had "expressed entrenched, warped and racist views", but that he viewed Walker's offending in the context of her illness.

Other than Walker having one police caution for cannabis possession, neither had previous convictions or cautions.

Frettsome was ordered to do 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 120 hours' unpaid work. Walker was given 15 rehabilitation requirement days.

Both pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and will pay £85 in costs and a £187 surcharge.

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