A lifelong wheelchair user has thanked shoppers and store staff for their support after being verbally abused by a teenager in Petersfield town centre over her affliction.

Inspirational teacher Kathy Joyce was left dumbfounded after a teen called her an upsetting seven-letter word in broad daylight in front of shocked shoppers in Rams Walk.

But last Friday’s incident also brought out the best of the public, with nearby people coming to her aid and staff at Waterstones also showing their support.

The culprit who spoke directly to Kathy was aged around 11 and part of a group of seven or eight, with the incident taking place during half-term holiday.

“He called me this word (which the Post has declined to print) and I had to stop for a moment,” said the softly-spoken 58-year-old specialist teacher.

“I hoped his friends would be embarrassed, but I also didn’t know what to do. It was incredulous.

“He looked at me right in the eye wanting a reaction, but I’m the grown up here and didn’t give it to him.”

While the incident was upsetting for the lifelong wheelchair user, Kathy is keen to highlight the heartening response she immediately received from people who heard the discriminatory word.

She said: “There was firstly a couple who heard everything who stopped to enquire if I was OK.

“They were a lovely couple. After asking me if I was OK they chatted with me for a bit.

“I then went into Waterstones, as it felt like a safe space, and someone else asked me if I was OK, and that was when it all came babbling out.

“I have to say, the staff in Waterstones Rams Walk were incredibly caring and supporting. So even though this whole incident was unpleasant, it did also serve as a reminder of the kindness of strangers.”

Charlotte Gowans, one of the Waterstones shop workers who provided support to Kathy, called the discriminatory word ‘horrible’.

She said: “I’ve been thinking about it all weekend.

“It was awful and I think that sort of language has no place here.”

Mother-of-two Kathy has a lot of experience working with children being a teacher and insists the vast majority have been respectful and polite.

So that made the incident even more shocking to her, so she and others hope the perpetrator and his friends are now feeling ashamed of the slur.

She said: “This sort of rude, disrespectful and abusive behaviour needs to be called out.

“There is, unfortunately, still a need to raise awareness and educate some people that everyone, no matter who they are, deserves at least basic respect.”

She added: “But last Friday at least I saw that some people still have decency and look out for others. I really want to focus on that because I was touched by how people came to support me.

“I am very grateful to be a resident of Petersfield, where the majority of people over the past 27 years have been lovely.”