NEW details have been revealed about successful hate crime prosecutions in North Yorkshire.

The Crown Prosecution Service released details of cases between April and June 2018 which saw them deal with hate crimes - offences motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a person’s actual or perceived disability, race, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity.

The locations of the crimes could not be released, but in one incident, a victim was approached while leaving his home by a man who “began questioning him about his religious beliefs in an intimidating manner”.

A CPS spokesman said: “The defendant then proceeded to assault the victim by pushing him to the chest causing the victim to stagger backwards.

“The defendant was charged with religiously aggravated common assault.

“He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 28 days custody, uplifted from 14 days, and £115 compensation.”

In another report, a shop manager and assistant were targeted on two occasions on the same day.

The spokesman said: “The defendant pleaded guilty to racially aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress by words or writing.

“He was sentenced to a 12-month community order, a non-accredited programme, 15-day rehabilitative activity requirement, £200 compensation for each victim, £85 costs, and a £85 victim surcharge.”

Superintendent Mark Khan, of North Yorkshire Police, said hate crime ruins people’s lives and that was something the force was ‘not prepared to ignore’.

He said: “The reason we publish this information is so people can have a better understanding about hate crime, what it is and what it means, by using some real examples. Hate crime is a crime, and it will be taken seriously whenever an incident is reported to us.

“We will work to continue to support those who suffer hate crime and encourage victims to report it to police. “However, it is not just down to victims to report hate crime. “Local communities themselves can take a stand, speak out and not give hate crime a home in their own neighbourhoods, by reporting incidents they may have witnessed to police.”