Woman who was verbally abused by teens praises Good Samaritans’ help

A supermarket worker who was verbally abused by teenagers says she is ‘overwhelmed’ by the community’s support in the wake of the incident.
Judy Byrne from Tring having problems with young peopleJudy Byrne from Tring having problems with young people
Judy Byrne from Tring having problems with young people

Judy Byrne, 48, of Dolphin Square, Tring, was returning home from Berkhamsted, where she works at Waitrose, on the bus when she was shouted at by four teenagers – two girls and two boys – on Tring High Street.

Judy, who lives alone, says this is not the first time something like this has happened.

She said: “It’s been going on for four years now, on and off.

“I want to live my life in peace. I’m fed up to the back teeth of this abuse. I don’t want to be scared to go out of my own house. I don’t want to live like a hermit. This abuse has got to stop.”

Judy, who says she asked the teenagers to leave her alone, believes they poke fun at her because of her personal YouTube channel, where she posts videos of herself and her day-to-day life online.

She said: “I haven’t posted too much on there recently because I don’t want to give them anything to latch onto.”

After the latest incident on October 21, Judy posted on the town’s Everything Tring Facebook site where she appealed to members for help and advice.

But she said she was ‘overwhelmed’ after people came forward offering to walk her home from work in order to make her feel safe.

She said: “I have lived in Tring for 21 years and I love it. It’s a community I feel proud to belong to.

“I am overwhelmed by everyone’s support and I want to say a huge thank you.”

But Judy did not want to tar all the town’s young people with the same brush, saying:“I chatted to three lovely teenagers who were shocked at what I had been through.

“There are some lovely teenagers in Tring – it’s just a small minority that spoil it for the others.”

Herts Police have confirmed that officers are investigating the incident.