Then the culprits posted the footage on YouTube.

The victim of the cruel prank was Joan Ellison, 51, who most days can be found sitting outside a filling station in Boothtown, drinking coffee, waving and chatting to passers-by.

The bullies filled a bucket of water on the station forecourt. While one of the men flung it over Joan, drenching her, the other filmed it. Then they did it again.

The culprits, one going under the name of Ste Pearcher, then posted the footage on the YouTube website.

Joan said: "They were two men, about 28 years old, and should have known better.

"One came out of All Souls Road, filled the bucket up at the petrol station and threw it over me.

"Teenagers have thrown plastic gloves filled with water at me before, but nothing like this."

She added: "Whoever did it are silly beggers. I was just glad the bucket wasn't filled with petrol or paint.

"At first I was angry about being on YouTube. But most people love me."

And Joan, of Poplar Street, Boothtown, says she won't give up her favourite pastime of watching the world go by from the filling station.

She said: "I get my coffee and sit on the wall. Coach and taxi drivers wave, people going to and from work say hello, the nursery children know me and people from the old folk's home come across.

"I have seen babies grow into toddlers and I look after people's dogs when they go into the petrol station.

"I haven't stopped going there. It doesn't bother me."

Police said the incident had not been formally reported.

One of the 2,000 people who watched the sequence on the website said: "I live near there and she doesn't do any harm.

"Really big and clever, throwing water over a harmless lady."

Another said: "She is the cornerstone of Boothtown."

Rachel Lovelady, of Moor End Road, Pellon, Halifax, also complained.

"I was appalled," she said.

"The man responsible for this despicable behaviour should feel utterly ashamed and disgusted with himself. Clearly he finds himself highly amusing.

"This behaviour is despicable and frankly I would think it could be viewed as assault."

Previous controversial YouTube postings include:

• Halifax YMCA employees using live ferrets for a game of skittles. The RSPCA is still investigating - click here.


• Three boys from Halifax High School fighting in a


• 28-second clip. From postings on the site it appeared two boys of around 11 or 12 were responsible for attacking a 13-year-old.

Courier Comment: Someone should nail this bully

Should throwing water over someone be classed as assault? Vote now in our poll on the right.