Mum from Kenya says racial abuse in Caernarfon 'destroyed' her family

Shakila Meli, a 31-year-old hairdresser from Llanllyfni, was told by Michael Williams, among other things, to “go back to where you came from” while she waited for a bus on August 9.

Williams, 36, of Dolfor, Pwllheli, was jailed for two years and one month at Mold Crown Court on October 22, for what Judge Niclas Parry described as “sickening and disgusting” behaviour.

Michael Williams (Image: North Wales Police) Ms Meli, who has legal status in the UK and has lived here for nearly 10 years, was also told: “You don’t belong here” by Williams, and subsequently had a panic attack in front of her three children, who are aged seven months, five and 12.

She said the prison sentence and three-year restraining order Williams was handed made her “really happy” and gave her “so much relief”.

“I’ve never had this kind of abuse in a long, long time,” Ms Meli said.

“It was really pleasing to see (him being jailed); I’m really happy about everything that’s happened. What matters is that he pays for what he’s done, and doesn’t do it to anyone else.

“It really destroyed us. My baby has said: ‘I don’t belong here, I don’t want be here, I want to be in Kenya’. I felt myself that this is not my home and I need to go, myself.”

Ms Meli had never taken the bus before this day, despite her friends assuring her that “it was really easy” to do.

Since the racial abuse, she said one of her children, who is “mentally destroyed”, has begged not to take the bus again, or return to Caernarfon.

When she passed by the scene of the abuse again, she said caused her to have “very bad anxiety and panic attacks".

Ms Meli added: “Before I left Kenya, I had promised myself never to leave. But I said that, if I did, I would go to the UK because I thought there was no racism here.

“I thought I was going to come and have a beautiful life here. I’d never experienced anything like this. It was really shocking to me.

“I worked so hard and sacrificed so much to be here legally.

“All I want is for my kids to know this is their home. They’re scared to play outside now. It’s really hard now for me to help them understand that.

“I really do feel like I’ve got closure now, I thought he would get away with it. I’m actually impressed that he didn’t, to be honest. It gives me so much relief.

“I just take each day as it comes.”

District Inspector Ian Roberts, of North Wales Police, added: “This was disgusting behaviour that was targeted at a woman because of her race.

“This will not be tolerated in Gwynedd, and we will robustly deal with any incidents of hate crime.”

At the sentencing hearing on October 22, which Ms Meli did not attend, Judge Parry told Williams his behaviour “frankly shames North Wales”.

He added to him: “You targeted her purely because of her race. The language was atrocious, but more than that, demeaning. She was humiliated.”

Anyone who experiences racial abuse can report it North Wales Police via its website, by calling 101, or alternatively via a support agency.