A PENSIONER gave a mentally retarded woman alcohol and paid her for sex before ditching her when she fell pregnant, a court heard.

Magistrates were told that Hugh Scott had earned himself a "reputation for consorting with vulnerable women" and had started inviting Paula Martin, 34, to his flat.

Scott plied Martin, who has a mental age of 12, with alcohol and offered her money for sex, the court was told.

Martin, of New Ruttington Lane, Canterbury, then began a sexual relationship with 72-year-old Scott and became pregnant.

But the baby developed abnormally and Martin was forced to have a termination.

The court heard that Scott's reaction was "extremely unsupportive". He offered Martin £20 to get rid of the child and denied it was his.

When he refused to have anything to do with Martin, she began racially abusing Scott, who is black.

Martin appeared before Canterbury magistrates and admitted racially aggravated harassment.

Prosecutor Anna Kachingwe said: "He heard the defendant shouting 'nigger' at him. She repeated the same word and told him he had better watch his car because she would ruin it. In police interview, she admitted she had called him a pervert and a nigger."

Leanne James, defending, said Martin has a learning disability and receives help from the East Kent Cyrenians.

Miss James said: "She met Mr Scott shortly after moving into her house.

"He has a reputation for consorting with vulnerable women and he started inviting her round to his flat. He plied her with alcohol and that led to him offering her money for sex which she accepted."

Miss James said the sexual relationship that soon came to the attention of the Cyrenians.

Miss James went on: "Miss Martin became pregnant, but the baby was developing abnormally and the pregnancy was terminated in July.

"Mr Scott's reaction to the pregnancy was extremely unsupportive. He offered her £20 to get rid of the child and refused to acknowledge it was his. He made it clear he was only ever interested in her for sex and that was the context in which the harassment occurred."

Miss James said Martin had also put Monopoly money through Mrs Scott's door after he claimed she owed him £100.

"She does admit that she said something racist, but this was against the backdrop of Mr Scott's cruelty to her," Miss James added.

Magistrates gave Martin a one-year conditional discharge and ordered her to pay £43 costs.