Blind woman spat at in coffee shop (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

They ought to blindfold this cretin and drop him off in the city centre.

Ignorant thug, picking on someone not able to defend themselves. As to those people around at the time they should be ashamed of themselves for doing nothing, cowards the lot of them. This attitude of standing back and not getting involved has gone to far, wake up people next time it could be your relative that needs some help.

think I know who this is. he is about 60 and talks to himself all the time.

He is a bit cuckoo unfortunately

Typical of a cowardly SCUM to attack a BLIND Defenceless person ;
as a previous correspondent has said , this Cretin should be put to sleep PERMANENTLY , as "its " a waste of space !!!!!

The VERMIN who cowardly abused this blind person should be put out of "ITS" miserable life permanently !!

You can only think that this person has mental health problems. No person in their right mind would do anything like that. I agree with Patty too regards people standing back and not getting involved, people do step back in fear of what may happen to them. In certain situations it takes one person to assist and suddenly others will join, but its all too rare and I feel ashamed that this happened in such a public place to such a vulnerable person, would he have been the same to a 6' bloke... And Patty, BTW I'm one that steps in.

I also know who this guy is as I have seen him regularly in Costa. He has been absuvive to me and my wift in Costa on number of occassions. Again the staff at Costa looked on and ignored what was going on. He usually hangs around outside Costa and the Arndale centre, swearing at passers by and being generally abusive. His is part of number of growing individuals with mental conditions who roam around in the centre of Bradford.

Seems as though the staff at Costa Coffee were useless. Suggest people show their digust by using other establishments.

I will not be using costa coffee shop any more and for people to watch on as someone is verbally attacked is disgusting, not one member of staff assisted Angela and if as they say they were following company procedure then they obviously don't think alot about their customers.

When I hear tales like this, I feel ashamed to be part of this race. Yes, I can understand staff not assisting, as if they did then the police would have arrested them for some form of crime. May I also point out that if we had kept the 'mental hospitals' instead of throwing them out onto the streets, this situation would not have happened. We moan when we can't get treatment from the NHS, when was the last time any one stood up for the mentally defective. My heart felt sympathy goes out to this poor woman, who was a victim of this mixed up nation. *If I have used the wrong terminology for these poor unfortunates, I apologise.

So, Costa's "strict company procedures" mean customers have to fend for themselves and staff ignore what's going on in their shops. If this man is a threat to people, then the next person to witness him doing this should report him to the police (just as the staff should have done!). The people who witnessed this should be ashamed of themselves. Life without sight is difficult enough without people making it even more difficult.

Mr Sensible wrote:
Seems as though the staff at Costa Coffee were useless. Suggest people show their digust by using other establishments.

Mr Sensibly,
I have seen a lot of your comments on T&A web site and think you have a lot in common with this horrible man

Sounds like costa coffee are covering their backs because if they had taken action previously, this wouldn't have happened. I hope this brave lady can overcome this setback. Sorry, costa coffe but this leaves a bitter taste in my mouth and I will take my custom elsewhere

This is a horrible incident and this man should clearly be dealt with in the appropriate manner - spitting is disgusting and can cause harm due to diseases.

Having known Mr and Mrs Perrow for some time I am SURE they will take it through the appropriate channels and will ensure that SOMEBODY pays for this.

I know Mrs Perrow can still drive and can still go out regularly in the car without her dog or her husband who is her full time carer,and also still enjoys nights out with friends and holidays without the dog or carer, but this does not mean she should not receive our sympathy, and people should not judge her for this as I am sure her cause is still genuine.

PWWof Idle wrote:
Typical of a cowardly SCUM to attack a BLIND Defenceless person ;as a previous correspondent has said , this Cretin should be put to sleep PERMANENTLY , as "its " a waste of space !!!!!

Please can we remember that however abusive this man was he is still a person, and has clearly been let down somewhere along the line.

We should also remember that Mrs Perrow is partially sighted, not completely blind. I just feel there should be some balance in these comments!!

PWWof Idle wrote:
The VERMIN who cowardly abused this blind person should be put out of "ITS" miserable life permanently !!

Please can we remember that however abusive this man was he is still a person, and has clearly been let down somewhere along the line.

We should also remember that Mrs Perrow is partially sighted, not completely blind, and is clearly receiving all the support she should have, unlike this man.

I just feel there should be some balance in these comments!! As Ushers Syndrome can also be associated with psychosis we need to remember that if people are not supported properly it may be Mrs Perrow left roaming the streets in her later years!!!

my mum is also blind and gets this all the time people are just cowards

This man is mentally ill he's well known in Bradford, in fact he just walked past our window as I'm writing this from the shop I work in... I doubt that's his fault. He needs help and should be sectioned instead of left free to roam the city. That is the real issue here.

While it's unpleasant for anybody to be spat at I think the sensationalist way this story has been written by the T&A is ridiculous. "Blind woman spat at..."

Her own friend says she can drive! If her sight is good enough to safely drive a car then she's not really blind is she! So what the man said was true! No need to spit tho!

jlb5 wrote:
This man is mentally ill he's well known in Bradford, in fact he just walked past our window as I'm writing this from the shop I work in... I doubt that's his fault. He needs help and should be sectioned instead of left free to roam the city. That is the real issue here.

While it's unpleasant for anybody to be spat at I think the sensationalist way this story has been written by the T&A is ridiculous. "Blind woman spat at..."

Her own friend says she can drive! If her sight is good enough to safely drive a car then she's not really blind is she! So what the man said was true! No need to spit tho!

Never mind her personal circumstances or his, people should not be threatened or abused in this manner at all, if that means he needs to be locked away for the good of the rest of society then so be it, her condition is degenerative and she is undergoing preparation for its later stages, that is not only going to help her, but everyone else, if she can maintain some form of independence. She does not need such setbacks at this time, i am sure she has enough to cope with.

The disability or otherwise of each party is to a large extent irrelevant. Are we suggesting that it is ok to spit at someone who isnt blind? This sort of anti-social behaviour is unacceptable and needs dealing with. I am dismayed that staff and customers didnt act more quickly to deal with the situation though. If the person is a regular surely the staff should have felt able to tackle the person about his attitude.

Duke of Odsal wrote:
The disability or otherwise of each party is to a large extent irrelevant. Are we suggesting that it is ok to spit at someone who isnt blind? This sort of anti-social behaviour is unacceptable and needs dealing with. I am dismayed that staff and customers didnt act more quickly to deal with the situation though. If the person is a regular surely the staff should have felt able to tackle the person about his attitude.

I don't think the level of disability is irrelevant, I think it is misleading to say someone is blind when they are not. However, as far as the abuser is concerned he was attacking someone who could potentially have been completely blind and therefore in an even more vulnerable position than Mrs Perrow found herself in!

I think we should have equal amounts of sympathy with both of them really, this guy clearly needs help and has been let down.

When guilty one always tries to put the blame on other people. Victor Clayton, Clayton I assume was in the area at the time and either did nothing and feels guilty or in fact committed the offence.

Mr Sensible wrote:
When guilty one always tries to put the blame on other people. Victor Clayton, Clayton I assume was in the area at the time and either did nothing and feels guilty or in fact committed the offence.

So you are now spouting you irrelevant bile filled rubbish on other areas of the T&A. The fellow who did commit the offence is in very bad shape mentally and physically, and has been let down by what is supposed to be a caring society. I am certain that his state of health at present is far worse than the lady who was spat at, if someone is able to drive they really do not need a dog to help them walk, unless she is preparing for the latter stages of the condition, in which case the practise sessions do not need to be taken in a town centre where this sort of problem may be encountered. Maybe we all need to open our eyes and look at the bigger problem which is a failing health service with less and less capabilities to care for people with mental health issues, this chap should not be care in the community he should be in an institution with supervision outside the grounds, as should many of the poor folk wandering around Britain, no hope, no help and no chance.
The spitting incident will have caused distress but I feel the sensational reporting has done nothing to help either party.

We need to view the man in question as a victim too. What he did was wrong but his mental state stops him from thinking it is wrong. Although the article doesn't say who he was, there are enough people here who have a good idea who he is and they will all testify that he's ill too.

My sympathy goes to the woman, but the guy is not a monster...

Realistic wrote:
Duke of Odsal wrote:The disability or otherwise of each party is to a large extent irrelevant. Are we suggesting that it is ok to spit at someone who isnt blind? This sort of anti-social behaviour is unacceptable and needs dealing with. I am dismayed that staff and customers didnt act more quickly to deal with the situation though. If the person is a regular surely the staff should have felt able to tackle the person about his attitude.I don't think the level of disability is irrelevant, I think it is misleading to say someone is blind when they are not. However, as far as the abuser is concerned he was attacking someone who could potentially have been completely blind and therefore in an even more vulnerable position than Mrs Perrow found herself in!I think we should have equal amounts of sympathy with both of them really, this guy clearly needs help and has been let down.

of course the fact that the lady is or isnt disabled is irrelevant. This mans behaviour was not acceptable, and whether or not he has mental problems doesnt change that. It may be more understandable that he reacted in that way because of his disability, but all of us have a right to go about our business without being subjected to verbal or physical attack. I am not apportioning blame here - it is probably fair to say that the system is failing when people who can become aggressive are able to do so towards total innoccents. OK, this lady may have been stretching the rules somewhat by taking a guide dog into a food area when in fact she probably didnt need the dog, but that is a matter for the establishemnt, and if a customer was concerned they should have voiced that to the manager. I do have sympathy for what appears to be a very troubled person, but that doesnt mean I think his behaviour is acceptable.

jlb5 wrote:
We need to view the man in question as a victim too. What he did was wrong but his mental state stops him from thinking it is wrong. Although the article doesn't say who he was, there are enough people here who have a good idea who he is and they will all testify that he's ill too.

My sympathy goes to the woman, but the guy is not a monster...

How do you know these things?

albion wrote:
jlb5 wrote:
We need to view the man in question as a victim too. What he did was wrong but his mental state stops him from thinking it is wrong. Although the article doesn't say who he was, there are enough people here who have a good idea who he is and they will all testify that he's ill too.

My sympathy goes to the woman, but the guy is not a monster...How do you know these things?

Because the circumstances suggest it was a man who is known to some. He's older, has grey hair, walks around town talking to himself and sometimes shouting out. Anybody who works in town in the kirkgate area will probably have seen him before...

He goes into Costa Coffee on a regular basis and he is known to staff

Realistic wrote:
This is a horrible incident and this man should clearly be dealt with in the appropriate manner - spitting is disgusting and can cause harm due to diseases.Having known Mr and Mrs Perrow for some time I am SURE they will take it through the appropriate channels and will ensure that SOMEBODY pays for this.I know Mrs Perrow can still drive and can still go out regularly in the car without her dog or her husband who is her full time carer,and also still enjoys nights out with friends and holidays without the dog or carer, but this does not mean she should not receive our sympathy, and people should not judge her for this as I am sure her cause is still genuine.

I wonder, if you could swap places with Mrs Perrow and try to enjoy what short term life with sight she might have, would you?
I'm sure we would all do the most normal things as much as we could for as long as we could.
Can you imagine what it must feel like to live your life wondering when your entire sight will go because I can't.
What happened at the Costa Coffee shop was inexcusable. Blind or partially blind, Mrs Perrow is REGISTERED BLIND and it hould not have benn allowed to happen

jlb5 wrote:
albion wrote:
jlb5 wrote:
We need to view the man in question as a victim too. What he did was wrong but his mental state stops him from thinking it is wrong. Although the article doesn't say who he was, there are enough people here who have a good idea who he is and they will all testify that he's ill too.

My sympathy goes to the woman, but the guy is not a monster...How do you know these things?Because the circumstances suggest it was a man who is known to some. He's older, has grey hair, walks around town talking to himself and sometimes shouting out. Anybody who works in town in the kirkgate area will probably have seen him before...

He goes into Costa Coffee on a regular basis and he is known to staff

I meant, how do you know the guy is not a monster? and how do you know that his mental state stops him from thinking it was wrong? he doesnt go into Costa anymore, they have barred him.

Imagine you have three beautiful children and hard working husband!!! Then you get the news that you are going blind it is a genetic disorder and there is no treatment available and they are not sure how long it will take before your sight goes for good months or years and you won't have the pleasure of seeing your children grow up or get married . Angela could have just hidden herself away and sunk into deep depression and felt very sorry for herself but for the sake of her children she has made the best out of this situation by learning braille, learning to use a stick and the trainig with a guide dog which she may rely on fully. All this is so she does not have to fully depend on other people but have some independence of her own. I commend Angela and for someone to say that she should not be training in a town centre or a coffee shop is an absolute ludicrous statement and they have the same mental capacity of the man that spat at Angela. So the blind can't use coffee shops or town centres???
Angela this year has raised and awful lot of money for the Blind and Deaf dogs. Yes she does go out with close friends and family but she does have to rely on us in the evening as her eyesight does not adapt and Angela has many friends who are completely bind and can also fully socialise. Angela does not drive on an evening as she finds it difficult and she has to have her driving licence reviewed every 12 months.

I feel the biggest shame in all this is the fact that certain members of the public think this is acceptable! I too know Mrs Perrow and she is a kind, lovely women who is struggling to come to terms with her illness. Over the weeks of working with her wonderful dog I have seen her confidence grow and seen how relieved she has been for the support received from the community. This incident has not only knocked her confidence but given her a fear to go out! Maybe the man in question does need help but Mrs Perrow is the victim and the Costa staff should be ashamed of themselves.

I think the people who may find it difficult to have sympathy with Mrs Perrow may be the ones who feel frustrated by a society which allows so many freeloaders to get away with abusing the system.

Which is a sad state of affairs, and we can only blame the ones who ARE abusing the system for this, and the people who let them get away with it!!

Of course we know this is not the case with Mrs Perrow but what I am saying is we hear daily of people faking or exaggerating problems to claim unnecessary benefits etc, and it’s a situation whereby people get so sick of hearing people cry wolf that when the genuine people come along your sympathy may be exhausted.

Again, just trying to offer some balance!!

Greetings to the good people of Bradford from Southern California. I'm gratified that so many of you learned about Usher Syndrome through this disturbing story. Usher Syndrome is an inherited (i.e., genetic) disorder that results in a progressive loss of sight (via a form of Retinitis Pigmentosa) AND hearing. In most forms of U.S., the patients become legally or entirely blind and severely or profoundly deaf. It's truly a tragic condition, yet as the father of two magnificent children with Usher, I can tell you that hope exists through magnificent research and clinical trials, many of which are sponsored in the USA and elsewhere by The Foundation Fighting Blindness - www.blindness.org.

As for some of you who are concerned or confused by Angela's being able to drive...keep in mind that this is a PROGRESSIVE condition. Each State in the USA has different milestones at which a person no longer can qualify for a driver's license due to diminishing eyesight...yet the overwhelming thrust of the governmental agencies in each State (and I'm sure in the UK) is to allow drivers to continue to drive for as long as possible. (Witness how many seniors can drive even though many of their relatives raise their eyebrows in disbelief.) The theory is that society as a whole benefits when people are allowed to care for themselves - it's not perfect, but as the story in the Telegraph and Argus demonstrates, neither are we.

Angela (and my children) may still be driving this year - but they have indeed lost a considerable part of their peripheral vision and there is no assurance they will be driving next year. They have diminished vision, and it is not up to us normal-sighted people to criticize them at all if they wish to have the benefits of the universally-recogniz
ed white cane, a canine companion, or other assistive devices. These are NOT incompatible concepts.

Thank you all for your insightful opinions and reactions to a most regrettable occurrence. My best wishes to Angela and her family, friends, and wonderful neighbors in Bradford. She is lucky to live in an environment with so many supportive and caring companions.

Evan in Del Mar wrote:
Greetings to the good people of Bradford from Southern California. I'm gratified that so many of you learned about Usher Syndrome through this disturbing story. Usher Syndrome is an inherited (i.e., genetic) disorder that results in a progressive loss of sight (via a form of Retinitis Pigmentosa) AND hearing. In most forms of U.S., the patients become legally or entirely blind and severely or profoundly deaf. It's truly a tragic condition, yet as the father of two magnificent children with Usher, I can tell you that hope exists through magnificent research and clinical trials, many of which are sponsored in the USA and elsewhere by The Foundation Fighting Blindness - www.blindness.org. As for some of you who are concerned or confused by Angela's being able to drive...keep in mind that this is a PROGRESSIVE condition. Each State in the USA has different milestones at which a person no longer can qualify for a driver's license due to diminishing eyesight...yet the overwhelming thrust of the governmental agencies in each State (and I'm sure in the UK) is to allow drivers to continue to drive for as long as possible. (Witness how many seniors can drive even though many of their relatives raise their eyebrows in disbelief.) The theory is that society as a whole benefits when people are allowed to care for themselves - it's not perfect, but as the story in the Telegraph and Argus demonstrates, neither are we. Angela (and my children) may still be driving this year - but they have indeed lost a considerable part of their peripheral vision and there is no assurance they will be driving next year. They have diminished vision, and it is not up to us normal-sighted people to criticize them at all if they wish to have the benefits of the universally-recogniz
ed white cane, a canine companion, or other assistive devices. These are NOT incompatible concepts. Thank you all for your insightful opinions and reactions to a most regrettable occurrence. My best wishes to Angela and her family, friends, and wonderful neighbors in Bradford. She is lucky to live in an environment with so many supportive and caring companions.

Perhaps now 'Realistic' should change their name to 'Shameful'!

Thank you, Evan In Del Mar for such an informative insight into this condition.