AN elderly woman who hurled homophobic abuse at a charity shop worker in a row over parking has been fined and given a restraining order.

Patricia Pavey got into an argument with a traffic warden after finding a parking ticket on her car in Cliffe High Street, Lewes, on February 25. She had overstayed the three hour limit.

As the row continued James Sidebottom, the Age UK shop manager, joined in and criticised her parking which he said was affecting business. The 80-year-old, who lives in the street, became angry with him for reporting her, yelling homophobic abuse, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.

At Brighton Magistrates’ Court Pavey was convicted of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress. She was ordered to pay a £249 fine as well as £250 in court costs and £30 toward victim services.

Magistrates also issued her with a restraining order which means she cannot park outside the shop for two years.

Gareth Morgan, of the CPS, said hate crime was taken seriously and would be pursued through the courts.