I was shocked at this. I muttered under my breath, ‘Is this for real?’. I was very shocked because I have not experienced racial abuse hurled at me since I was in primary school.

I bought my ticket at the office and worriedly walked out to find this man on the side. He had his back to me. I walked past as quickly as I could, feeling frightened in case I was being followed.

Another man saw this and he could see I was visibly upset. He told me he was French and that he was sorry this happened to me. He then walked with me near my home to make sure I was okay. I thanked him, as I had been in tears.

But I decided I wouldn’t just cry and take it. As soon as I got home I called 101. I thought the best I could do was to report this.

I reported it and it is now recorded and the police will look into this area. The operator on the phone also told me some similar incident was reported yesterday.

It’s not so much what this drunken racist said to me, it’s the fact that this happened to me in 2016 in my home country.

I was born here, this is my home, and yet I am seen as an outsider. I know racism is alive and well but it feels different to experience it after a very long time. I feel sad that the EU referendum has empowered racist fools.

Please be safe everyone, and if you find yourself in a similar situation, look out for people who you can seek help from. And then please please report it. This cannot go unreported.

The author preferred to remain anonymous.  

See: Ed Miliband calls on Nigel Farage to condemn racist attacks post-Brexit