By Staff Reporter

Last updated at 12:09, Tuesday, 06 May 2008

A Filipino woman broke down in tears as she told a court of the vicious racial abuse she suffered.

Two yobs hurled thecomments at Lilia Korwin-Granford and her husband Michael Korwin-Granford, calling her a “Chinese Bitch” and made lewd remarks about their personal lives.

The men responsible for the vicious attack were found guilty of making insulting racially-aggravated comments following at trial at Whitehaven Magistrates Court.

Victor Davidson, 19, of Ehen Road, Cleator Moor, and Renwick Nathan Dockwray, 20, of The Oval, Mirehouse, will be sentenced by a judge after magistrates ruled their powers of punishment were insufficient.

The attack happened on August 23 as Mr and Mrs Korwin-Granford drove from hospital to their home on Cambridge Road, Hensingham.

As they went past two men and a woman on the corner of Cambridge Road and Cumberland Road, one of the men began to shout abusive comments directed at Mr Korwin-Granford.

They then directed their abuse towards Mrs Korwin-Granford.

In evidence, Mr Korwin-Granford told the court: “My window was down and I heard clearly what was said. We called the police as soon as we got home.”

Mrs Korwin-Granford, who broke down in the witness box when she had to repeat what was said, supported her husband’s versions of events.

She added that the type of racial abuse she and her family were forced to endure was common in the Hensingham area.

The prosecution alleged that when Davidson and Dockwray heard police were looking for them regarding the incident, they went to the Korwin-Granford’s home and apologised.

They then, it was claimed, attempted to make an agreement with Mr Korwin-Granford that this would be the end of the matter.

Initially, Mr Korwin-Granford agreed but later discovered that when the pair were interviewed by police they had denied the offence and decided to prosecute.

Both Dockwray and Davidson admitted being in the area at the time but denied making the comments.

When quizzed about why they had allegedly apologised for something the claimed they had not done, Davidson said he had not gone to say sorry, but to find out why he was being accused of the abuse.

They will be sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court on May 30.

First published at 11:44, Tuesday, 06 May 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk