Racist OAPs jailed after being filmed telling Asian NHS employee ‘return to your dinghy’

Fyona Bairstow, 72, and Michael Bairstow, 77, were jailed after pleading guilty to racially aggravated assault against Filipino NHS worker Apple Moorhouse in Manor Heath Park, Halifax

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A racist elderly couple who were filmed telling an Asian NHS worker to “go back to your dinghy” have been jailed. Fyona Bairstow, 72, and Michael Bairstow, 77, racially abused Apple Moorhouse in Manor Heath Park, Halifax, last August after she suggested they should have their dog on a lead.

Disturbing video footage which captured the incident subsequently went viral, showing the couple – who had been wed for three decades – unleashing a torrent of vile abuse at the Filipino healthcare worker.

Earlier this year the pair, of Moor Grove in Shelf, Halifax, admitted to a racially/religiously aggravated common assault against Apple at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court on March 11.

Mr Bairstow also pleaded guilty to a charge of assault by beating, which related to another woman who attempted to intervene.But they both received an eight-week prison sentence at the same court.

Sentencing the pair, a magistrate said: “My personally first instinct is it’s deeply sickening and the point is usually with age and ageing usually comes wisdom and kindness.

“That kind of attitude and those words and the things you’ve said to Apple Moorhouse are not something that come out in a second, they’re something that are deep-rooted.

“Somebody that can be so vile and aggressive to somebody as this young woman here I can only think you are extremely ashamed both of you.”

The couple were heard saying they were “ashamed” of their behaviour. During the hearing earlier this year R Richard Davies, representing the prosecution, detailed the circumstances of the case, labelling it a “nasty incident”.

The court heard how Apple, a British citizen, had relocated to the UK from the Philippines in 2009. He explained that the NHS worker had been in the park with her father and six year old daughter at 1.20pm on August 28, 2025.

The Bairstows were out with their dog, which was “running free” and “wasn’t on a lead”, the court was told. Mr Davies said the dog approached Apple’s child and started barking, frightening her, prompting her to step in.

The Bairstows came over and Ms Moorhouse, who had been in the play area but was returning due to heavy rain, said to Mr Bairstow, “your dog should be on a lead because it’s been running up to everyone”, according to the court.

Mr Davies described the response as “very hostile”, with Mr Bairstow telling her to “go back to your dinghy” and making swimming motions.

Ms Moorhouse informed the couple she was a healthcare worker, to which Mrs Bairstow responded by calling her a “stupid b****”.

The court heard Mr Bairstow then commanded his dog to “get her, kill”, before throwing a bowl full of liquid, believed by Ms Moorhouse to be water, at her and shouting “ban immigrants”.

A statement from Ms Moorhouse, read aloud in court, said: “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 footage captured by Apple also reveals Michael Bairstow throwing water at her before sneering: “Go back on the boat.”

He then ridiculed migrants crossing the Channel, making rowing motions and asking: “Have you got a rubber boat? Did you come across the Channel?”

Speaking outside court following the hearing earlier this year, Apple said she feels less secure after the incident and “keeps looking over” her shoulder.

She added: “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.”