REPORTS of disability hate crimes are rising in Wiltshire, but just one has led to a charge since 2017, reports from a disability charity show.

In the year 2017/18 38 hate crimes were reported against disabled people, rising 61 per cent to 61 by 2018/19 and more violent crimes were also reported.

Leonard Cheshire said low prosecution levels are unacceptable and leave disabled people feeling a sense of injustice.

A woman who was supported by Leonard Cheshire’s hate crime advocacy service and wished to remain anonymous said: “Our experience [of hate crime] took over our lives.

“We felt isolated, afraid and alone all of the time.

“We went from being active, independent adults to our children no longer wanting to leave us at home on our own.

“We were embarrassed to have visitors come to our home because of what would happen.

“This experience claimed many years of our lives [that] we will never get back. [We] were treated like prisoners trapped in our home surrounded by those who wished us harm simply because they hated us.

“This was a very dark period of our lives, leaving us emotional scars which we will always carry with us.”

Leonard Cheshire hate crime advocate Terence McCorry said: “Disability Hate Crime is targeting the most isolated and vulnerable people, many of whom do not know where to turn for support.

“Persistent crimes and incidents aimed at disabled people will leave them feeling unsafe in their homes and community, living in a constant state of alert and hypervigilance for the next attack.

“Disability hate crime is wrong.”

Joshua Reeves, campaign support officer for Leonard Cheshire, said: “Hate crime to me is hugely cutting and it should be taken more seriously by law enforcers.

"When I see disability hate crime happen and experience it myself, it makes me realise that we live in a world where there are cruel and wicked people out there.

“The earth should be peaceful for all fellow humans.”

Figures were published this week into hate crime figures, including disability hate crime.

There has been an 86 per cent increase in hate crime figures over the last five years.

Transgender identity hate crime has risen from 10 in 2017/18 to 27 in 2018/19 and sexual orientation has risen from 55 to 93 over the same time period.

Superintendent Mark Calland, force lead for hate crime, said: "I see the increase in part as a positive as it shows more and more people are aware of what hate crime is and are coming forward to report it. For example, historically, the number of reported hate crimes against someone's sexual orientation were very low; as you can see we are seeing an increase - this being an indication that more people are now reporting it. We want everyone to have the confidence to report these types of crimes and keep reporting them. There is never any excuse for hate crime; as a Force we take all reports seriously and will respond robustly to anyone committing these crimes.

"Our message is, we will pursue and prosecute anyone where there's evidence that this type of frightening and distressing crime has been committed."

Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson said uncertainty over Brexit and the rise of social media could be linked to the increase in hate crimes.

He said: “I actively support Wiltshire Police's zero tolerance towards hate crime - it's never to be tolerated.

“There is never an excuse for this time of crime; however, the current political uncertainty in this country around Brexit, along with the anonymity social media can give can exacerbate this awful crime.

“No-one should feel threatened or unsafe because of who they are, the life they live and beliefs they hold."