A WOMAN who suffered racial abuse from her neighbour is planning to move away and make a fresh start.

Leanne Thomas, 26, said she and her partner Jason Davies, no longer feel comfortable living at home in Wern Road, Pontypool, after being racially abused by Russell Gardiner.

And yesterday she spoke of her relief after his appeal against conviction failed.

Russell Gardiner, 40, of Wern Road, Sebastopol, Pontypool, lost his appeal at Cardiff crown court yesterday against convictions for racially abusing neighbour Leanne Thomas and damaging part of a house.

Ms Thomas, 26, said she was made so distraught by the abuse on Christmas Day she no longer feels comfortable living in the street.

She said: "I'm quite relieved the appeal has failed. Our house went up for sale straight after it happened - I just can't wait to move away.

"We have to live next door and I see him almost every day. It's hard work knowing the way he feels about me."

She added: "I'm disgusted by Gardiner really. It really upset me what he said and it completely ruined our Christmas. The last six months of going through the courts have been horrendous as well. He should be ashamed of himself."

Gardiner, a man with no previous convictions, was found guilty by Cwmbran magistrates on March 31 of causing criminal damage and of racially aggravated threatening behaviour.

He was sentenced to a community punishment order for 70 hours and ordered to pay costs of £150.

At Friday's appeal hearing prosecutor David Watts said that at about midnight on Christmas night Gardiner went to the home of Jason Davies who lived two doors away, who was in bed with his girlfriend, Leanne Thomas.

Gardiner damaged a waste pipe and plants in the porch before shouting racial abuse at Ms Thomas.

She told the court he made racist remarks about her and threatened to kill her and Mr Davies. As a result, she said, they were so concerned they telephoned the police.

Gardiner told the court "I've never been in trouble before."

He said he and Mr Davies had been friends but fell out. He didn't have a grudge against Ms Thomas, he said.

He said Christmas Day was "lovely" but he drank so much he could remember nothing from 6pm until he woke up at noon.

His counsel, Heath Edwards said "It was a moment of madness caused by too much Christmas cheer."

Gardiner was ordered to pay £100 costs.