A disabled woman who racially abused a neighbour for not returning her son’s ball must pay almost £500.

Sandra Meridith, 48, of Northwick Road, South Oxhey, was allowed to sit by magistrates during sentencing after pleading guilty to racially aggravated harassment.

The incident dates back to Monday, May 19, when a ball one of Meredith’s two sons was playing with ended up in Mary Nahr’s garden.

After the ball was not returned Meridith, who is registered disabled and has suffered a stroke, went next door and knocked on the window.

When Ms Nahr answered the door Meridith, who has a similar previous conviction, called her a “black bitch”.

The police were called and Meridith was arrested the next day.

The mother of two boys, aged seven and 10, was given a 12-month conditional discharge in 2005 for similar offence.

In mitigation the court heard that Meridith was registered disabled, and received £175 disability allowance.

The stroke she suffered made her forgetful, she is partially sighted in the left eye and has problems with her balance, and so would not be suitable for carrying out unpaid work as punishment.

Chairman of the bench Robin McCarthy, sentencing at Dacorum Magistrates Court on Friday, said: “Mrs Meridith we are going to fine you rather than look at a community penalty.

“The racist element aggravates this offence, but we have taken into account the mitigating factors such as it did not take place over a prolonged period.”

Meridith was ordered to pay £495 in fines and costs out of her benefits