A vile racist attacked a woman and bit her in front of her four-year-old son after launching a disgraceful tirade. Patricia McGrath, 43, became aggressive with the mum who overheard her telling a child: “You call him a monkey mate, he does look like a monkey”.
The woman told her not to condone the behaviour, but McGrath began swearing at her before choking her. During a struggle as the woman tried to push her off, McGrath punched her to the face and bit her arm, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.
She then ‘mocked her’ by hitting her on the head before calling her numerous racist slurs. After the attack, the woman went to hospital where she received treatment for the bitemark which had broken the skin, along with cuts and bruises to her face and hands.
READ MORE:
After admitting racial harassment and assault by beating, McGrath, of Stalybridge, was handed a suspended sentence in what a judge deemed was ‘disgraceful behaviour’.
Prosecuting, Eleanor Myers said that on September 7 last year, the victim and her son, aged 4, were going to their local dessert shop when she heard someone say the word ‘monkey’. Recognising this was a racial slur, she thought it had come from one of a group of children who were standing outside.
She saw a man speaking to a boy, saying: ‘The next time he calls you a monkey, you deck him’. She then heard McGrath say: 'They’re only children, so what if he calls him a monkey. You call him a monkey mate, he does look like a monkey.'
“The victim told her not to condone the behaviour, and the defendant became aggressive, calling her a f****** rat and a b****,” Ms Myers said. “She responded saying that she was a b****.
“The defendant ran to her, put her hands around her neck and began choking her. She tried to push her off, but the defendant grabbed her wig and pulled it off and then punched her to the face.”
McGrath bit her, causing the woman to swing at her twice to release her. She then proceeded to call her a variety of offensive names including ‘monkey’ and ‘Bl*ck c***’, in front of her young son.
The woman called her brother who took her home, and after feeling dizzy and nauseous, she was taken to A&E where she was treated for her injuries, including having a Hepatitis injection.
In an emotional victim personal statement, the woman said her life had completely changed after the attack. She said she had a breakdown as a direct result and now suffers with depression, anxiety and PTSD.
“Prior to the incident I was happy, bubbly, full of life and full of love,” the former GP social worker said. “Following the incident I returned to work but felt a deterioration in my mental health. How can you advise people who are suicidal whilst figuring out how to end your own life?”
She said she has since lost her job. She said the biggest impact had been on her young son who asks her: “Mummy, when are you going to get better?”
“I have seen him angrily shout ‘monkey’ at his toys and me, and I have had to explain to him that sometimes people aren’t going to like him simply because of the colour of his skin,” she said.
“He did not need to learn about racism, certainly not in the manner he did - he did not need to hear any of it.”
The court heard that months later in November, McGrath was caught driving dangerously through Hyde in the early hours of the morning in a Peugeot which was in a ‘poor state of repair’. After evading one police car she was pursued by another, which saw her driving through ‘no entry’ roads, going through red lights, reaching excessive speeds and eventually crashing into a stationary bin lorry.
McGrath was said to have 21 previous convictions for 30 offences including most recently for failing to provide a specimen in June last year.
Mitigating, Steve Sullivan said his client had a ‘tough upbringing’ but between 2000 and 2014 she was a stranger to the courts. However, matters unravelled and she began abusing cannabis and offending, he said.
“In 2021 she hit self destruct mode, she says. She made a nuisance of herself with the public and the police,” Mr Sullivan said.
“She was living in temporary accommodation at the time and was effectively homeless. She presented a ‘devil may care’ attitude towards her own welfare and towards the public.” He added that she has since ‘cleaned up her act’ and has stayed sober.
Sentencing, Recorder Geoffrey Lowe said: “You embroiled yourself in something that had nothing to do with you. You were inciting the child to involve himself in further racial abuse, she told you you should not condone that behaviour and you became aggressive.
“This was a disgraceful piece of behaviour. There were many children present, her young child was present, and that child was exposed to hearing racial abuse for the first time.
“I can’t imagine a much worse situation as a result of your conduct and behaviour.”
McGrath, of Gwladys Street, Stalybridge, was handed a prison sentence of 18 months suspended for 18 months, ordered to complete a Thinking Skills Programme, 20 days of rehabilitation activity requirements and 150 hours unpaid work after admitting racially aggravated harassment, assault by beating, dangerous driving and driving whilst disqualified.
Read more of today's top stories here
READ NEXT:
