Racist nurse, 62, shouted ‘go back where you came from’ to her British neighbour who had lived in South Africa in row over raucous house party

• Ex-NHS nurse Karen Sexton, 62, told British neighbor ‘go back to f***ing Africa’

A racist NHS nurse has been convicted of racism after she shouted ‘go back to where you came from and get yourself raped’ at her British neighbour who had lived in South Africa.

Former auxiliary nurse Karen Sexton, 62, who was drunk, was hosting a rowdy party at her home when next door neighbour Deborah Lacey hammered on the walls to ask her to turn the music down on May 12 this year.

The following morning a confrontation took place between the women in which grandmother Mrs Lacey was said to have snapped in frustration and told alcoholic Sexton: ‘Just go and drink yourself to death.’

But Sexton then told UK-born Mrs Lacey, who had spent 35 years in South Africa but returned to the UK following a gunpoint attack: ‘Go back to f***ing Africa where you f***ing come from and get yourself raped.’

The victim, a credit controller from Ince, Wigan, Greater Manchester was so ‘horrified’ by the remark she went to police and revealed how the comment triggered harrowing memories of a savage assault she suffered whilst living in the seaside resort town of Strand, near Cape Town.

Racist NHS nurse Karen Sexton (pictured), 62, has been convicted of racism after she shouted: ‘go back to where you came from and get yourself raped’ at her British neighbour who had lived in South Africa

Sexton, who was drunk was hosting a rowdy party at her home when next door neighbour Deborah Lacey (pictured), in her 50s, hammered on the walls to ask her to turn the music down

Mrs Lacey (pictured), who was believed to be in her 50s had died since the incident after suffering a stroke

In a statement Mrs Lacey said: ‘Because of this incident, I have not been staying at my address. I am trying to spend as much time with my family as I can and I am looking to move away from my home because of Karen’s behaviour.

‘The incident brought up the worst kind of memories for me. Though I was born in the UK I lived in South Africa between the ages of five and 40. We left South Africa after we had been broken into by men and threatened at gunpoint.

‘I was badly assaulted during the incident. The private security arrived just in time as I believed I was going to be raped. Karen’s comment brought the experience back to me. I was left speechless and completely horrified by it.’

The court heard Mrs Lacey, who was believed to be in her 50s had died since the incident after suffering a stroke.

At Wigan magistrates court, Sexton, of Ince pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment and was conditionally discharged for two years after apologising for her conduct.

Joseph Seale, prosecuting, said: ‘On May 12 of this year the defendant was having a loud party and causing a nuisance. Her neighbour knocked on the adjoining wall in an attempt to get this defendant to turn the music down but the incident sparked a verbal argument between the two.

‘In the context of the argument a series of words were used, some of the points are not relevant. There were quite a large number of points made but the particular issue is “You go back to f***ing Africa where you f***ing come from and get yourself raped”, which the defendant said to the victim in this matter.

‘It was quite a serious statement and very upsetting for the complainant to have to deal with and be subjected to. Obviously it brought up a lot of memories and difficult issues for the complainant in this matter.’

At Wigan magistrates court, Sexton (right), of Ince pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment and was conditionally discharged for two years after apologising for her conduct.

In mitigation Sexton’s lawyer Andrea Woods said: ‘This is quite a sad case as far as Miss Sexton is concerned. She is now in her 60s having never been brought to the attention of the courts previously. She has mental health issues and physical health issues and at the time of this incident she was drinking as well.

‘Her and the complainant did have a very good neighbourly relationship but the issue that caused this exchange of words was that the complainant had been banging on the walls of Miss Sexton’s home which in turn made her dogs bark and get hysterical.

‘The following day there was a conversation between them. The defendant thought that the complaint was talking about her to another neighbour and said ‘You don’t have to stop talking about me’. Then there was an exchange of words about the disturbance coming from the defendant’s party.

‘The defendant was told to ‘go and drink herself to death and as she was an alcoholic, that comment hit a nerve and she responded with a comment that she accepts, ‘Go back to Africa and get yourself raped.’ She was in a state of intoxication at the time and had been provoked by a comment about her own state of health.

‘She did say to police that there was not any racial hostility and I do not think she holds any racist beliefs. She used the piece of information that she possessed and spat back at the complainant when an unpleasant remark was made towards her.’

Victim Mrs Lacey (pictured), a credit controller from Ince, Wigan, Greater Manchester was so ‘horrified’ by the remark she went to police and revealed how the comment triggered harrowing memories of a savage assault she suffered whilst living in the seaside resort town of Strand, near Cape Town

Ms Woods added: ‘She would have just as likely have said “Go back to Scotland” or “Go back to the Lake District” if that had been the information she possessed of her neighbour. But she does concede it was a nasty thing to say.

‘She sought immediate help and went into rehabilitation where she learned of the passing of the neighbour who had suffered a stroke or something similar.

‘She has not had a drink since leaving the rehabilitation complex. She clearly regrets the comment made and is ashamed of what she said. ‘Her other neighbour has written a note to Miss Sexton to say she has always wanted to be “good neighbours with you” and “be good friends”. There is no Ill feeling by the others.’

Sexton was also ordered to pay £111 in costs and a victim surcharge.

JP Philip said: ‘We have heard about this very unfortunate incident with your neighbour and it is very sad that she has now passed. Nevertheless, it was serious enough to be brought to court and we have taken into account the racially aggravated aspect of this.’

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