A dog owner convicted of racially aggravated harassment after calling a woman a "black b****" was today told by a judge that she “deserved a break”.
Fiona Connolly, 43, faced the possibility of jail for the offence.
She was cleared earlier this month of a separate charge of religiously aggravated harassment after it was alleged she also said her Jack Russell “doesn’t like Muslims” moments after it bit the dress of Candice Legister in Little Wormwood Scrubs Park.
The following day she bumped into the victim again and made the racially aggravated remarks in a Tesco Express in Kensington and Chelsea.
At Westminster Magistrates’ Court today, a weeping Ms Connolly was told by Senior District Judge Howard Riddle her sentencing was being deferred until April 4 so she could continue with rehabilitation programmes before he made his judgement.
He referenced a pre-sentence report and told the court Ms Connolly had been through a “tough time”.
He said: “I know you’ve been kept waiting. I’m deferring sentencing to Monday 4 April.
“You’re not on bail.”
The judge mentioned three treatment groups he would like her to continue to work with, adding that if she kept up with them he was minded to deal with the matter by way of £50 compensation.
“If you do [the treatment] I’ll deal with this with £50 of compensation," said the judge.
“You deserve a break and I hope you get one.”
