A pensioner couple have pleaded guilty to racially aggravated assault after a video of them abusing an NHS nurse in a Yorkshire park went viral.
Fyona Bairstow, 72, and Michael Bairstow, 77, accosted Apple Moorhouse in Manor Heath Park, Halifax, in August, following a dispute over their dog being off its lead.
Bradford Magistrates’ Court heard that Michael Bairstow told Ms Moorhouse to “go back to your dinghy” while making swimming gestures. As she tried to walk away, Fyonna Bairstow pulled her ponytail.
The pair, from Shelf, Halifax, both admitted racially aggravated assault against Ms Moorhouse at the court on Wednesday.
Michael Bairstow also pleaded guilty to assaulting a second woman who intervened.
After the hearing, Ms Moorhouse, who moved to the UK from the Philippines more than 15 years ago, said she never returned to work after the incident, and was left feeling scared and anxious.
Richard Davies, prosecuting, said that on 28 August 2025 the Bairstows’ dog went up to a child and started barking.
Ms Moorhouse intervened, and when the couple approached her, she told them the dog should be on a lead.
Her statement, read in court, said: “The reaction was very hostile, (Michael Bairstow was) telling me to ‘go back to your dinghy’ and making swimming gestures with his arms towards me.
“I said I was a healthcare worker. The female was calling me a stupid bitch.”
The court heard that Michael Bairstow told his dog to “get her, kill”, and threw a bottle of water towards Ms Moorhouse, splashing her, while saying: “Ban immigrants.”
Ms Moorhouse’s statement read: “When I tried to walk away the female pulled me back by my ponytail causing my head to go backwards.
“They were very racist towards me, they seemed to want to make everything a conversation about immigrants and calling me a slave.”
The court heard that when another woman intervened and told Michael Bairstow to get away from Ms Moorhouse, he punched her to the left side of her face and said: “Sticking up for immigrants, who do you think you are?”
The case was adjourned until 15 April for a pre-sentence report to be shared, and the couple were bailed, with conditions not to go to Manor Heath Park or contact Ms Moorhouse.
Speaking outside court after the hearing, Ms Moorhouse, who is a British citizen, said she feels less safe after the incident and “keeps looking over my shoulder”.
“I feel anxious obviously, every time that I think back, I feel upset,” she said.
“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.”
Ms Moorhouse added: “At their age they should know better, but obviously they didn’t.”
