Although she is a British citizen, Apple Moorhouse was racially abused in Manor Heath Park in Halifax, West Yorkshire, an incident which left her “looking over” her shoulder
An NHS worker has spoken of her distress after a racist couple subjected her to vile abuse in a park.
Apple Moorhouse hit back at Fyona Bairstow, 72, and Michael Bairstow, 77, who told the woman to “go back to your dinghy”. Apple, who is a British citizen having lived here since 2009, said yesterday the foul-mouthed tirade has left her “scared” and unsettled.
The Bairstows turned on Apple after she asked them to keep her dog on a led in Manor Heath Park in Halifax, West Yorkshire. Sickening video footage which captured incident later went viral, showing the couple — who had been married for three decades — hurling a barrage of abuse at the healthcare worker.
She said yesterday: “It’s a big thing, racism, and it needs to be dealt with. I’ve been here since 2009 and never had anything like this before, for 10 years, it was fine but now it’s got worse.
“I used to work in healthcare and I wanted to go back but I felt scared … this happened and I just didn’t go back. Caring was my passion but then this happened and it was hard to go back.”
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The Bairstows, who recorded the clip, were both given eight-week jail sentences yesterday at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court. They had admitted racially/religiously aggravated common assault against Apple at a previous hearing.
The charge relates to the incident at Manor Heath Park on August 28, 2025 when Apple ad been in the park with her father and six-year-old daughter. Mr Bairstow also admitted a charge of assault by beating, which was in relation to another woman who tried to intervene.
Sentencing the pair, a magistrate said: “My personally first instinct is it’s deeply sickening and the point is usually with age and ageing usually comes wisdom and kindness.
“That kind of attitude and those words and the things you’ve said to Apple Moorhouse are not something that come out in a second, they’re something that are deep-rooted.
“Somebody that can be so vile and aggressive to somebody as this young woman here I can only think you are extremely ashamed both of you.”
The couple were heard saying they were “ashamed” of their behaviour. During the hearing earlier this year Richard Davies, for the prosecution, outlined the circumstances of the case, describing it as a “nasty incident”. It heard how Apple, who is a British citizen, had moved to the UK from the Philippines in 2009.
The court heard the Bairstows were out with their dog, which was “running free” and “wasn’t on a lead”. Mr Davies said the dog went up to Apple’s child and began barking, scaring her, so she intervened.
The Bairstows approached and Ms Moorhouse, who had been in the play area but was heading back due to it raining heavily, said to Mr Bairstow, “your dog should be on a lead because it’s been running up to everyone”, the court heard. Mr Davies said the reaction was “very hostile” with Mr Bairstow telling her to “go back to your dinghy” and making swimming gestures.
