A woman has been ordered to pay compensation to a shop assistant she “racially abused” earlier this year.

Donna Heaton, 46, racially abused the shop assistant at a branch of the Spar supermarket in Preston on Wednesday January 3.

Brought before Preston Magistrates Court she indicated a guilty plea to racially or religiously aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress.

A statement from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Donna Heaton, 46 from Preston, must pay £100 compensation to the Preston Spar shop assistant she racially abused in January.”

The court took Heaton’s guilty plea into account but ordered that the sentence be uplifted from a financial penalty to a community order because of the racial element.

ALSO READ: 65 drivers caught speeding in one hour on notorious 20mph road

ALSO READ: Warning issued to owners of these cars after spate of thefts in Lancs

As well as the compensation of £100, Heaton, of Tulketh Road, Preston, was sentenced to a 12-month community order, uplifted from a fine for racial aggravation.

She was also ordered to carry out a nine-month drug rehabilitation programme and to pay a £40 fine.