Mum abused and filmed by '˜racist' yobs while breastfeeding on train

Jay Brewerton was travelling on a packed train heading from Brighton to Bexhill on Saturday evening (April 23) with her two young children and seven month old baby.

Jay, from Bexhill, asked a group of youths to give up a seat for an elderly passenger – only to be met with a volley of abuse.

She said: “I asked them to tone down the language because I was with my children.

“But they got more abusive.”

One youth hurled abuse at another female passenger who asked him to stop swearing.

The group then turned its attention to an elderly, frail, Belarusian lady with a walking frame.

Jay said: “They started mocking her, making references to immigrants and Hitler because she sounded quite German.”

The elderly woman got off the train at Eastbourne.

Midway through the journey, Jay’s baby needed feeding.

But to her horror, one of the group took his mobile phone and proceeded to film her.

Jay said: “I asked what he was doing and he was showing his mates and laughing.

“I was so shocked, I said I wanted it deleted immediately.”

Jay believes the footage was sent to the youth’s friend further down the carriage, who shouted out an obscene comment about her breasts.

They then rounded on Jay’s autistic son Isaias and filmed him while mocking the terrified seven-year-old.

Jay said: “I felt so vulnerable. I could not get up and find the conductor because I did not want to leave my shopping and buggy.

“They were really nasty, vulgar and abusive.”

The group – four boys and a girl – were wearing jackets sporting company logos.

Jay contacted the company concerned, requesting an apology and reassurance the footage had been deleted.

Not satisfied with their response, the incident has been reported to police.

British Transport Police has launched an investigation into the incident.

Sergeant Russ Stobbs from BTP said: “We have been made aware of a racial and hate related incident on board a Brighton to Bexhill train shortly after 8pm on Saturday, April 23.

“The circumstances of this incident are particularly concerning and we are in the process of speaking to witnesses as well as viewing CCTV as part of our investigation.

“This type of behaviour will never be tolerated and we will always look to take firm action against those who intimidate, threaten or abuse passengers or rail staff.

“If you witnessed this incident, or know the individuals involved, we’d like to hear from you.

“Please contact us on 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016 quoting reference 250 of 26/04/2016.

“Alternatively, information can be passed anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

A spokesperson for Govia Thameslink Railway, which owns Southern railway, said: “While incidents like these are rare, we take any abuse or anti-social behaviour on our trains very seriously, especially those involving racial abuse, as do the British Transport Police.

“We will use all our resources to help them investigate the incident.”

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