A DISABLED woman has appeared in court for hurling homophobic abuse at her neighbour's son, calling him 'a fat gay'.

Sara Cockayne of Sheepscombe Drive, Warndon, Worcester used the homophobic slur to describe her neighbour's son, Emmanuel Thomas, following a row at the block of flats.

The 47-year-old appeared before magistrates in Worcester today (Monday) where she admitted a section five public order offence on July 4 last year.

By her plea she accepted using threatening or abusive words or behaviour in the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment alarm or distress, also called 'disorderly behaviour'.

Sarah Hurd, prosecuting, said the complainant, who did not live at the address, had been visiting his mother at the block of12 flats at around 7pm.

There had been some discussion between the defendant and the complainant's mother about feeding a cat.

"There are some bad feelings between the neighbours" said Mrs Hurd.

During an argument Cockayne was heard to say: "I'm not having a fat gay look at me."

Cockayne then repeated the insult, this time adding the word 'dirty'.

Mrs Hurd said: "It's insulting and of course it's homophobic. This is not a very pleasant thing to have happened to Mr Thomas. He says he was extremely distressed."

In a victim personal statement Mr Thomas said the incident had made him think about what he wore and the way he presented himself.

"I have experienced panic attacks, especially when visiting my mum in her flat," he said.

He also said he had trouble sleeping after the incident.

Jas Dhaliwal, defending, said the incident only lasted 10 seconds and Cockayne was standing about 20 metres away.

"It wasn't one of those incidents where someone has got into another person's face" he said.

Mr Dhaliwal told magistrates it was one year ago and there had effectively been a cooling off period.

He also criticised a delay in the case caused by the Crown's failure to disclose material.

His client was a woman of previous good character with no convictions, cautions or reprimands recorded against her.

"She is very nervous to be here" he said, describing how she suffered a seizure at the last hearing 'because of the stress of these proceedings'.

Mr Dhaliwal also listed her health issues which include a serious head injury, epilepsy and asthma.

He said she had twice been in a coma and was in receipt of £207 per fortnight in Employment Support Allowance.

Magistrates fined her £270, ordered her to pay £50 in compensation to Mr Thomas and a £34 victim surcharge.

They did not give her the full credit requested for her guilty plea, noting that Cockayne had originally described the case against her as based on 'a malicious allegation'.

At the court hearing she accepted the case against her on a full facts basis.

No restraining order, as requested by the prosecution, was made because the complainant's mother no longer lives at the address and there had been no further offence in that period.