Home   Medway   News   Article

Victoria Linnell, 72, from Strood, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment

A grandmother who asked a taxi driver how long he had been in the country before declaring she wanted “her country” back is unrepentant.

Pensioner Victoria Linnell,72, who made the remarks to the cabbie, admitted to being a racist.

Speaking from her home in Strood, said: “I don’t care if people think it was racist.

The hearing happened at Medway Magistrates Court
The hearing happened at Medway Magistrates Court

“People are just too terrified to say what they think.

“Everything has to be politically correct.”

Divorcee Linnell added: “It’s not our country any more.

“We are the hosts of this country yet we bend over backwards to help these people. How much further do we have to bend over?”

Linnell had been at The Crown pub in Rochester High Street on April 16, when a friend called a taxi to pick her up.

The driver helped her get into the car and, once inside, Linnell, who is partially sighted, asked him how long he had been in the country.

Linnell, of Fuschia House, Humber Crescent, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated
harassment when she appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court.

‘Whatever your personal views are you should keep them to yourself. It’s abhorrent’ - District Judge Paul Goldspring

Nick Markendale, prosecuting, said when the cab driver replied with “long enough to call it my country” Linnell told him he was lying.

She replied: “This is my country, can you stop talking about it.

“I want my country back. I am sick of you people being appeased.”

District Judge Paul Goldspring said: “It is these sorts of comments that are fuelling the intolerance that we are seeing.

“Whatever your personal views are you should keep them to yourself. It’s abhorrent.”

Linnell was fined £100 and ordered to pay £85 court costs, £100 victim compensation and a court surcharge of £30, totalling £315.

Linnell said afterwards: “I did not have a voice in court. I pleaded guilty because it was the easiest thing to do. I would have taken it to Crown Court on principle but I couldn’t afford it.”

Close This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Learn More