Cheryl Mc Keown (pictured) made a threatening gun gesture at her neighbour and blew smoke in her baby’s face
A mother who threatened to kill her Muslim neighbour and blew smoke in her baby’s face has been spared jail.
Cheryl McKeown, 32, made a threatening gun gesture at Koutar Mrimou and blew smoke in her baby’s face.
The mother-of-two left rubbish strewn across Ms Mrimou’s driveway and yelled: ‘This is becoming an Islamic Estate, you need to get your children out of this country.’
McKeown was issued with a harassment warning after her neighbour made a number of allegations against her, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard.
Eniola Damilola, prosecuting, said Ms Mrimou was taking her children to school when McKeown confronted her eldest daughter last September.
McKeown told the daughter: ‘Tell your mum to get out of here, I am going to f***ing kill her.’
Ms Mrimou called police and both neighbours were spoken to. The victim claimed she was in fear of her life and went to stay with her mother that weekend.
When Ms Mrimou returned home she called police after her neighbour told her to ‘get her f***ing children out of the country.’
She claimed McKeown made a gun gesture with her hands and pointed towards the victim.
‘The defendant has placed her fingers on her head imitating a shooting motion,’ said Ms Damilola.
Describing another incident in April last year, the prosecutor said McKeown had filmed people coming in and out of the victim’s house.
‘The defendant filmed her family members coming in and out of the house making loud vomiting noises as they left.’
McKeown was issued with a harassment warning after her neighbour made a number of allegations against her, Westminster Magistrates’ Court (pictured) heard
McKeown was questioned about the allegations and denied everything, the court heard.
In an impact statement the victim said that she and her family had been ‘emotionally drained’ and the harassment had a ‘major effect on her life’.
‘She has left me feeling vulnerable and intimidated,’ she said. ‘I have suffered so much stress.’
She described McKeown’s behaviour as ‘disgusting’ and her quality of life at the time was ‘at the lowest it could be.’
McKeown’s abuse included telling the victim to ‘f-ck off back to where you belong’ and ‘there are enough already in England.’
She also yelled: ‘This is becoming an Islamic Estate, you need to get your children out of this country.’
McKeown has no convictions but received a caution in February 2010 for harassment.
Anita Reece, defending, said McKeown had two young children, an ill mother that she has to take to medical appointments and was suffering from mental health issues.
Ms Reece read out a letter from one of her daughters which said she ‘needed her mummy.’
‘Me and my little sisters rely on her,’ she said.
Ms Reece said: ‘She is a lady who is not well, she does have some medical issues.’
She continued: ‘The victim and her used to be very good friends – even after these proceedings she is will to apologise to the victim.’
District Judge Michael Snow spared her jail and handed a 26-week prison sentence suspended for two years.
He noted that in spite of her appalling behaviour she had no criminal convictions and is suffering from mental health issues.
‘You have a clear diagnoses of anxiety and depression,’ he said.
He added: ‘Because if that I am not going to send you to prison.’
The judge said he usually had no hesitation in imposing prison sentences for such offences.
He told her: ‘This occurred over a prolonged period, it was sustained, it involved threats and disgusting language.
‘And it even extended as far as smoke being blown into the face of a young baby being held by its mother.’
He said her behaviour was motivated by her perception of the victim’s religion, adding: ‘There can be no doubt that this case is of the upmost gravity.
‘In this case you used absolutely disgusting language and distinct hostility because of your warped views of her religion.
‘This type of behaviour is corrosive to our society.
‘The court must take a firm line in making it clear that this behaviour will not be tolerated.’
McKeown was handed a restraining order against the victim to last for a period of two years and she will be the subject of a curfew.
She is also subject to a 30-day rehabilitation requirement and was ordered to pay costs of £300, compensation of £250 and a victim surcharge of £115.
McKeown, of Shepherd’s Bush, denied but was found guilty of harassment without violence.