A MUM who suffered a racially aggravated attack in front of her four-year-old son – leaving him needing therapy – is hoping that by sharing her story people will be “kinder to people who are different".

Slovakian immigrant Michaela Grellnethova, lived in Fingerpost with her family until her neighbour attacked her.

She was knocked to the ground and punched and kicked in front of her home – while she was walking her young son to school.

He has been in therapy ever since the attack in November – as he thinks the "bad lady" is going to come and hurt his mum again.

Michaela, 26, claims she was subjected to racial slurs, including being called “a f***ing foreigner,” for months before the attack, despite several attempts to be friends with her neighbours.

Her attacker Victoria Davies, 35, of Lascelles Street, was jailed for 15 months for racially aggravated assault causing actual bodily harm on August 31. A 15-year-old girl also received a 12-month probation order for her part in the incident.

Michaela, who  is now elsewhere in the borough for her family’s safety, said: “My son has been left traumatised by witnessing my attack in front of our home and months later is still in therapy.

“I have lived in the UK for six years, two years in St Helens, and in all of that time I have never received any racial hatred towards me or my partner – apart from this one family.

“I want people to know who these people are and learn from what happened, so other people can be kinder to people who are different.

“We love living here in St Helens, we have good friends and just this family have scared us and forced us to move out of our home for the safety of my children – forcing me to give up my job near where we used to live.

“I had injuries but the damage it has caused my son is more bad to me and I hope by sharing my story others will think before being so cruel.”

Detective Inspector Louise Birchall added: “Hate crime comes in lots of different guises, and we recognise the impact this type of crime has on individuals and communities.

“I would like to urge anyone out there who may have been a victim of hate crime, to get in contact, so we can take action. We have specially trained officers who deal with this type of crime day in day out and you will be appropriately supported and given the highest priority.

“I’d also like to remind people, we have a number of third party reporting centres across Merseyside, such as fire stations, citizen advice bureaus and hospitals.

"This enables those people who feel more comfortable with discussing their issues with an independent party to come forward."

Anyone with information about hate crime should call police on 101 or Stop Hate Crime’s 24-hour helpline on 0800 1381625.

In an emergency always call 999.