SA nurse called a ‘black gorilla’ in UK

Kent - A South African-born woman says she has been tormented for years by a racist British woman who called her a “black gorilla” who should “go back to your own country”.

Pamela Bower, a black nurse who was born in South Africa, moved to Kent, UK, 16 years ago after seeing a job advertisement, the Times reported.

According to a report in KentOnline, Bower had been good friends with her neighbour, Kellie Wells, 42, who had often visited her to drink wine because she knew the nurse’s husband had a large supply in his cellar.

But soon after Bower’s husband died, she erected a fence between their houses and the abuse started.

Wells allegedly called Bower a “black gorilla” and told her to "take your welly boots and go back to your own country".

Then in July last year, Wells took a mixture of flour and water and threw it over the fence onto Bower and said “you’re now white British!”

According to the Times, Wells had also stolen items from Bower’s home and goods she’d ordered online were never delivered. She would later see Wells wearing the items.

Bower told the Times British police were reluctant to charge Wells and instead asked Bower where she was from.

Recorder Gordon Reed said in the Maidstone Crown Court that Wells’s behaviour was “appalling” and that she showed little remorse.

Wells has been sentenced to 33 weeks' imprisonment and received a restraining order for 10 years that keeps her from going near Bower.

1/3 of Britons admit to being racist - survey

In May, nearly a third of people in the 2013 British Social Attitudes Survey admitted to being racist on some level, a report in the UK’s Independent newspaper stated.

The levels of prejudice increased with age, with the highest among over-55s, and those with no qualifications, the survey found.