A police interpreter who moved to the UK 13 years ago claims she’s become a victim of racial abuse following the Brexit vote by locals telling her to “go home.”
Laura Gudaiskiene, 31, claims she was targeted while standing in a post office queue after sticking up for a Polish man who was being sworn at.
She says she politely asked the offender who was wearing an England t-shirt to stop before being told: “Just go home. We voted you out. You will all have to leave this country soon.”
Laura broke down in tears and threatened to call police but he pointed to the logo on his shirt and shouted, “you can call whoever you want, this is our country, our law” before pushing past her to flee the shop.
She followed him and took a picture of his car registration, leading police to arrest him a day later.
Laura, who works for Cambridgeshire Constabulary and is originally from Lithuania, said: “I was obviously in the wrong place at the wrong time and with the wrong people.
“I’ve made lots of friends and made my life here. I love this country but I’m scared now.
“We were thinking of doing an extension to our home and having children, but I just don’t know any more.
“There’s lots of questions, we don’t know what’s going to happen following the vote to leave the EU and we don’t know what to expect.
“It’s made me question my life in Fenland and even the UK as a whole.”
Laura lives with her husband Zigimantas in Doddington, Cambs., and was in her village post office on July 2 when the incident occurred.
She said: “I came here in 2003 to build a life from scratch. And it’s the same for many others; they come here to study, to work, and to make a better life for themselves.
“They don’t come here to claim £40 a week in benefits.”
Laura, who used to work in recruitment also said at least 90 per cent of migrants who come to Britain start work straightaway.
She added: “A lot of migrants work 12-hour days for not a lot of money, and question whether to stay or go back home.
“But I’d like to see what would happen to all the factories in Fenland if they did.”
Laura is also making an official complaint about staff at the post office, who she claimed did nothing to help, despite her obvious distress during the ordeal.
She said: “I was upset and crying but not once did any of the staff check to see if I was OK, or ask the man to stop being aggressive.”
Cambridgeshire Police confirmed a 47-year-old man from March, Cambs., was arrested on suspicion of assault.
He was bailed until August 15 pending further enquiries.
The Post Office has been contacted for comment.
