'Just go back to your own country': Racist thug launches foul rant at Polish mother shopping with her young children in Aldi

• e-mail

A horrified Polish mother and her two young children were racially abused and sworn at by a foul-mouthed yob as they shopped near their home.

The woman, who only wants to be known as Marta, was stunned when she was told to 'go back' by the middle-aged man as she spoke Polish in a busy Aldi store.

The shocking verbal attack has left the Polish community in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, 'shocked and saddened'.

A horrified Polish mother and her two young children were racially abused and sworn at by a foul-mouthed middle-aged yob (pictured) as they shopped near their home

Marta captured the tail end of the tirade of abuse on a video using her mobile phone so she could report the astonishing incident.

She was shopping with her two children aged three and nine near her home last Wednesday when the total stranger suddenly confronted her out of the blue.

Marta said: 'I had just met my friend in the supermarket and we were having a conversation.

'This man passed by us and suddenly said: "Start speaking English". I said: "Excuse me?"

'He then swore at me twice and told me to go back to my country, making an offensive comment about me being Polish. I asked him: "What's your problem? Would you like to ask anything else about my country?"

'He said: "Just go back".'

The furious mother-of-two added: 'I called for the manager and told them what was happening and my husband came over.

'And then he stopped shouting at us, but he carried on saying things under his breath.'

Marta captured the tail end of the tirade of abuse on a video using her mobile phone so she could report the astonishing incident

Marta's stunning footage clearly shows the arrogant lout, who was wearing a green Parka and red baseball cap, turning towards her and say: 'Just go back.'

The graphic clip then shows her asking him why he thinks it's OK to make such comments about her. The cocky man retorted: 'Freedom of speech.' 

Marta said that five and a half years living in Stevenage it is the first time she's ever been abused - which 'made the attack so surprising.'

'He can think whatever he wants, but he can't upset my family and my children,' she said.

'Maybe he's quite scared and upset with everything happening with Brexit, making it easier for small-minded people to think such things.'

Marta, an assistant restaurant manager, went to school in London before returning to Poland.

She then moved back to England for work. 'I've worked hard here and have a good job,' she said.

'Stevenage has always been a very welcoming place on the whole, that's what we decided to stay here,' insisted Marta.

'We want to live here because we really like this country and like the freedom of this country.'

Marta reported the verbal assault to Hertfordshire Police. The force has now launched an urgent investigation.

Marta's stunning footage clearly shows the arrogant lout, who was wearing a green Parka and red baseball cap, turning towards her and say: 'Just go back.'

Outraged Piotr Malecki, of Stevenage's Eastern European Association, branded the abuse an 'unprovoked, vicious, verbal, racist attack'.

Mr Malecki said: 'The whole situation is a terrible shock to our Polish community, especially that two children were also subjected to this nasty racist attack.

'Luckily, through enormous effort from the community members, sharing words and images on social media, we managed to identify an individual with his full name and his full address.

'We reported him to police in Stevenage and we are waiting for police to contact us back.

'The attacker was a middle-aged white male, wearing a green, military-style Parka coat and red baseball hat.

'We'd like to take this opportunity to share our disappointment.' 

He stressed: 'We also want to ask for support for our community members to make sure this nasty and unacceptable behaviour is thoroughly dealt with and that it does not go unpunished.

'Unfortunately we have not had a very positive experience with reporting similar incident to police in the past.

'Polish citizens who live in Stevenage are a very strong part of the local community and contribute to a very diverse and multicultural social landscape in our town.

Piotr Malecki, of Stevenage's Eastern European Association, branded the abuse an 'unprovoked, vicious, verbal, racist attack'

'As a community group we organise and engage the local Polish community in various projects and events which always focus on building intercultural understanding, promoting tolerance and respect.

'We believe as a community we should try as hard as possible to tackle racism, bigotry and hate crime and through our actions we should always show there is no place for them in modern society.

'As a Polish community we expect to be respected and we will always oppose hate.'

Sgt Ali Beazley, the neighbourhood police officer, said: 'We take all incidents of hate crime very seriously and will always investigate where appropriate.

'People of all race and religion should be able to live in our town without fear of being abused.

'If you recognise the man or witnessed the incident please call the Herts Police non-emergency number 101 quoting crime reference number E1/17/466.

'Alternatively please call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.'