A WREXHAM woman blamed her prolonged racist tirade against a neighbour on her brother's home-brew making her "loopy," a court heard.

Julie Patterson, of Cheshire View in Wrexham, appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court on Tuesday for sentence.

The 64-year-old had previously been convicted of criminal damage, assault by beating and causing alarm or harassment - all of which were racially aggravated and took place on August 9.

Suzanne Cartwright, prosecuting, told the court the targets of the abuse were Patterson's neighbour Dorota Sokolowska and her friend Katazyna Domaradzka.

Patterson and Ms Sokolowska had been neighbours for around a year-and-a-half, with things being described as "friendly" initially.

But on the day of the offence the defendant began banging on her windows, calling her names.

She threw a crystal vase at her, which missed but smashed.

Ms Sokolowska called her friend Ms Domaradzka, who came and waited with her for the police to arrive.

But in the intervening period, Patterson launched a foul-mouthed "tirade" at the victims, frequently referencing what she believed to be their nationality.

Ms Cartwright said: "The racial abuse was extensive."

She also made derogatory remarks about their appearances and accusations that they were trying to "kill her cats" in addition to hitting Ms Domaradzka in the stomach.

In a victim statement read to the court, Ms Sokolowska said the incident left her shaking and unable to sleep.

It caused swings in her blood sugar levels, which were dangerous for her diabetes, and made her feel unsafe in her own house.

In her statement, Ms Domaradzka said the words "hurt."

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She described the defendant as "unpredictable" and said she and her friend "want to live normally."

Probation officer Andrew Connah told the court: "She argues that there was a level of provocation but fully accepts there would be no excuse for her behaviour on this day.

"She tells me she tends to have a drink of an afternoon - usually a bottle or two of cider, no more.

"On the occasion of the offence, her brother had been round and given her some 'home brew' so it might save her money rather than buying cider.

"The home brew drove her 'loopy' and she lost control - that's what she feels caused this.

"She has no previous convictions of any nature."

Mr Connah said that during interview, Patterson hadn't expressed any racist thoughts or attitudes. 

Alex Mackenzie, defending, said her client had shown genuine remorse.

"She wants to make it clear those are not her views," she said.

"She is very much ashamed of herself for expressing those views."

District Judge Gwyn Jones told the defendant: "Such intolerance is wholly and utterly unacceptable.

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"While you say you're not ordinarily racist, it would appear in drink comments were made which would suggest to me there's an undercurrent of treating those you feel are of a different background to yourself in an appalling way.

"Whatever issues there may have been regarding the neighbouring gardens with cats which may have started the matter, it is clear the fact you started drinking allowed this venom to come out of your mouth."

In total, the District Judge handed down a 30-week custodial sentence but suspended it for a year.

He handed down an electronically monitored curfew to last 20 weeks and ordered Patterson to pay £200 compensation to each victim, £20 for the vase and £85 costs.