A COUPLE who hurled abuse at a severely disabled man have been fined hundreds of pounds.

Graham Sinclair and Cheryl Peterson, both 28, of Birches Road, Horsham, yelled slurs at Paul Gibb in January.

The victim, who cannot walk unaided and needs crutches and a mobility scooter, went shopping with a friend but when they returned home, found a car blocking the walkway.

As Mr Gibb, struggled to get past in his scooter, the pair, who had never met him, yelled buse from a window, mocking his condition and claiming he was not disabled. Witnesses later checked on Mr Gibb to see if he was ok.

The pair denied using threatening, abusive and insulting words and behaviour to harass and distress Mr Gibb. But they were found guilty of the public order offence after a trial at Horsham Magistrates’ Court.

Sinclair was fined £450 and Peterson £120. Both were ordered to pay £300 in costs. They were handed higher fines because this was a hate crime.

They were cleared of assaulting Mr Gibb and Mandy Hadfield.

David Packer, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: ““The language used in this case was foul and abusive.”