Woman Who Hurled Racial Abuse at Doctor Walking Home Avoids Jail Time

A woman from Darlington narrowly escaped a prison sentence after being found guilty of racially abusing a doctor on his way home from work. Chantelle Smith, 42, launched into a racially charged tirade against the man in Darlington town center, near the town clock, on Thursday, August 8. The doctor was subjected to a barrage of racial slurs and aggressive swearing from Smith, leaving him feeling unsafe.

In a victim impact statement, the doctor shared his initial compassion for Smith, explaining: “At the time, I felt sorry for this female and thought she was homeless and sitting in the rain. My first thought was to get her a cup of tea to make her feel better, as that is my culture to help people.” However, his kindness was met with hostility when Smith began hurling racial slurs at him. “She started calling me a P***,” he said.

“These slurs have made me feel very upset and angry, causing me alarm and distress while out in public. I feared for my safety.” Smith, who resides at Tyne Crescent, Darlington, appeared in Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, September 12.

She was given a community order, set to last until September 10, 2025, following her admission on August 10 to using threatening or abusive words or behavior that caused harassment, alarm, or distress of a racial nature, as reported by Chronicle Live.

Chief Inspector Victoria Cubby of Durham Constabulary spoke out against the incident, saying: “Hate crime in any form has no place in our society and we will not tolerate it. I want to send a clear message to anyone who commits these types of offenses: your actions have real consequences.”

She added, “If you are found to be committing hate crimes or inciting violence towards our communities, you will be dealt with robustly.” Smith’s sentence highlights the gravity of hate crimes and serves as a reminder of the serious repercussions such actions can bring.