X FACTOR reject Emma Chawner, her sister and father have been labelled ‘bullies’ after ‘terrorising a vulnerable and elderly widow' as she pruned her roses.

Anny Duxbury was left speechless after being subjected to foul-mouthed abuse by the Chawners, who are originally from Ramsbottom, after they returned home from a shopping trip, Preston magistrates heard.

The Chawners, who moved to Great Harwood after they were evicted from their Ramsbottom home four years ago, claimed their neighbours 'hated' them because of their TV exposure.

Emma said: "Ever since my family has been on the TV all my neighbours have been getting at us, and picking on us, and getting us done for things we haven't done."

Prosecutor Stephen Burns said Mrs Duxbury was chatting with her friend Angela Whittle, at her garden gate, when the Chawners pulled up in their car.

The pair began laughing and could hear 'mocking' laughter from the car, said Mr Burns. He alleged that the trio waited until Mrs Whittle had left so they could launch their tirade without any witnesses.

Giving evidence, Mrs Duxbury said: "I was very upset. I thought what have I done to deserve this? I have never said anything to them - I never talked to them."

The Chawners were initially given £80 fixed penalty notices, for their behaviour, but decided to contest the matter before magistrates.

The court heard that dad Philip Chawner, 57, said: "Look it's that f****** b****", as they unloaded groceries from the car in Russell Place, Great Harwood.

And his daughter Emma, 22, made a similar comment as she was walking to her home, opposite Mrs Duxbury's smart terrace.

Her sister Samantha, 24, trailing behind, also said: "You are nothing but a f****** old witch".

The Chawners were each convicted of using threatening behaviour after a three-hour trial in Preston and conditionally discharged for 12 months.

Each must pay £90 compensation to Mrs Duxbury, for the mental trauma she endured, and £80 court costs apiece.

Passing sentence, magistrates chairman Colin Davidson said: “You have terrorised a vulnerable and elderly lady. You are all younger than her and you should know better.

“Bullying is detestable and you didn’t need to do it.”

Magistrates also made a 12-month restraining order, banning the Chawners from having any contact with their victim.

The court heard Philip is currently on income support and Emma does not work and is reliant on her father for money. Samantha is currently in work but is off sick.

The Chawners first rose to fame after Emma was rejected by the X Factor in 2007, with judge Simon Cowell telling her she had the 'voice of a baby' at an audition.

Later either Emma or the family together filmed a variety of reality TV shows from The Chawners' Last Chance to Big Brother's Bit On The Side.

Currently they are appearing with their mother Audrey on repeats of Lorraine Kelly's Big Fat Challenge on the Biography Channel.

Tonight's episode sees Emma and Sam packed off to a 'fat camp'.