A Montgomeryshire mum who had been accused of racism towards her English neighbour has seen her conviction overturned on appeal.

Judge Nicola Jones, sitting with magistrates at Caernarfon Crown Court, told 66-year-old Ellen Jones, a carer who’d been found guilty at Welshpool court of racially-aggravated harassment: "Your appeal is allowed. We are not sure that the incident which is alleged to have taken place, took place on October 23 or indeed at all. We found yourself and your son to be more credible witnesses in this case.”

She refused a prosecution application for a restraining order.

In evidence Mrs Jones, of Trem y Noddfa, Carno, said there had been a parking dispute with her neighbours. She denied swearing or using racially abusive language.

She said that on October 23 last year she had been at home all day and in her conservatory with her son, drinking tea, when the offence had allegedly occurred.

Character references described Mrs Jones as “well known and loved around the community” and her family as “well-respected”.

The initial hearing in Welshpool had heard that Mrs Jones had been drunk, and had called her neighbour Ben McLean, 29, who is originally from Birmingham, a "dirty immigrant", and told him to get "back to your own country".

But when questioned about the abuse at Friday's appeal hearing Mrs Jones, who had no previous convictions, told the court: "I wouldn't use them words."

Jemma Gordon, counsel for Mrs Jones, said the victim in the case told the initial hearing that he had been to see the horror film “It” when the offence occurred – but added that that film had come out in 2017.

“There’s simply too much doubt in this case, inconsistencies as to what has been said,” the barrister declared.

The Judge agreed, and overturned the Montgomeryshire woman's conviction to restore her unblemished criminal record.