Woman charged for using Nazi term in front of Jewish gardener

A Devon resident caused outrage by referring to herself as 'the Gruppenfuhrer' in front of her Jewish neighbour

A non-Jewish woman in Devon who called herself “the Gruppenfuhrer” in front of a Jewish gardener with whom she was at odds has ended up in court.

Barbara Young twice offended Jewish resident Bryan Cummings at the allotments in St Thomas, Exeter. He reported her to the police on both occasions, with the second incident resulting in her being charged for a racially-aggravated abuse.

Giving evidence, Cummings said he was “absolutely outraged” after Young, 71, used the word, which is German for ‘group leader’ and later became an SS rank.

Young said it was a term of endearment used between her and her husband, with whom she was talking when it was overheard by Cummings. Magistrates agreed and cleared her of all charges. Observers put it down to a storm in a flowerpot.