HATE crime is rising in Worcestershire, released figures show.

The data shows that 323 cases of hate crime were reported to West Mercia Police last year, an increase on the previous two years.

Crime centred on race and sexual orientation saw increases in each of the last three years, however, offences against people who are transgender and offences against people's lifestyle choices, classed as prejudice crimes, both saw significant increases.

There were 10 transgender based crimes reported last year, while there was just one 2012.

There was also only one crime classed as prejudice reported to the police in 2013, but 11 were reported last year.

Danielle Gormley, of Tallow Hill, Worcester, says she has experienced bullying since becoming a woman three years ago, and was subject to a "horrible" incident earlier this month.

The 31 year-old said: "Since I've been transgender I get looks and some people will tap on my shoulder as I walk past. I was subject to bullying from one group of people in particular for a while.

"Around two weeks ago was the worse it has been. I had been out with friends and was walking home with my girlfriend at around 3.30am.

"A car pulled up alongside us, and I was wearing a skirt.

"There were about five lads in the car who were saying sexually provocative things to us.

"We were very scared but kept on walking, trying to ignore them.

"They realised I was transgender and became angry. They shouted aggressive things to us and were threatening to hurt me. It was horrible.

"They sped off, but stopped further up the road that we were walking on, it seemed like they were waiting for us. "We walked in a different direction.

"I was disgusted that I had been persecuted like that.

"The reason why they were aggressive is more upsetting than the actual incident itself.

"The next day I did not leave the house at all, as I did not know what would happen. It made me not want to wear skirts again too. My confidence and life has been effected by their ignorance."

Another woman, who did not wish to be named, says she has experienced many years of prejudice, because of her lifestyle choice of dressing 'goth'.

She said: "I began dressing ‘goth’ when I started high school, and was bullied throughout. As I grew up I was beaten up regularly.

"People thought they were entitled to abuse you because you looked different."

Sophie Kenaz, 24, who grew up in Kidderminster and attended Worcester Sixth Form, said: "In my teens when I lived in Kidderminster I had abuse shouted at me, I’ve been grabbed at without my consent, spat at and been threatened with everything from being punched to being run over purely based on how I was dressed.

"While living with my husband, we’ve had rubbish thrown into our garden, people urinating against our living room window and children constantly knocking at the doors and windows.

"We knew no one and had upset none of the neighbours with anything but our appearance."

In 2012, 279 hate crimes were reported to West Mercia, which rose to 293 in 2013.

250 crimes against race were reported last year, up from 237 in 2013 and 218 in 2012.

Sexual orientation crimes rose to 40 being reported last year, compared to 31 in 2013 and 21 the year before that.

Other classes of hate crimes include disability, hate, religion and belief.

Kevin Purcell, Superintendent of West Mercia Police, says the figures are rising as more people are having the confidence to come forward.

He said: "We welcome the increased reporting of hate crime in Worcestershire; this shows that people have the confidence to come forward to report their experience in the knowledge it will be thoroughly investigated.

"If you have been a victim of hate crime, please don’t suffer in silence."

The figures were released by West Mercia Police after a Freedom of Information request.

For more information on reporting hate crime, visit report-it.org.uk/home