Restraining order after TV chef subject to racist abuse

Malaysian-born Jennie Cook, an ambassador for Malaysian cooking and a former tourism chief, was involved in a nine-month dispute with next-door neighbour Kathleen Williams, 63, on their street in Bishopthorpe, which ended in the shocking tirade of racist insults.

A trial at York Magistrates’ Court heard this week that Williams screamed at her “Nobody likes you here because of the colour of your skin. Go back where you came from” and “Can you speak proper English?”.

Hours earlier Williams had accused the chef of trying to kill her and her pets by setting her car on fire with discarded cigarette butts.

She posted a note through the chef’s door giving her solicitors’ name and the words “attempted death of myself and animals”.

The court heard that Jennie Cook, who appeared on Channel Five show Breaking Into Tesco, moved in next-door to Williams nine months ago and their neighbourly relationship quickly turned sour.

Giving evidence, the chef said: “I have lived in this country for 42 years and I have never encountered that sort of remark ever in my life.

“It was insulting, hurtful, distressful and just really upsetting.”

She explained that a plumber was parked near their properties on May 4, and Williams began taking photographs of his van because she believed he was blocking the pavement.

She told Williams to go away, which seemed to trigger the racist outburst.

Williams, who denied racist abuse but was convicted after a trial at the magistrates’ court on Monday, claimed the chef had sworn at her and made hurtful remarks about her and her house.

She also claimed she had found cigarette butts under her car which she said could only have been put there by the chef or her visitors, and they could have resulted in the car’s fuel tank catching fire and setting light to her house.

But magistrates rejected her account and conditionally discharged her for 12 months, with a restraining order banning her from all contact with her neighbour for two years.

She was also told to pay £100 compensation and £620 in costs.

Jennie Cook has travelled the country doing cookery demonstrations and attending festivals in towns and cities.

Last year she worked with Rick Stein cooking up Malaysian cuisine at the Taste of London Festival.