Southampton Patriots leader ‘lost his job’ after being pulled over
A prominent member of the Southampton Patriots told police: “I am not stopping for you” when he was pulled over by officers for driving without a seatbelt after a protest.
Craig Jones, 42, of Salerno Road, Southampton, admitted failing to stop and driving without a seatbelt at Southampton Magistrates’ Court today.
Jones is a leader of the so-called Southampton Patriots, an anti-immigration group that regularly protests outside the Highfield House Hotel, where asylum seekers are housed.
Prosecutor Graham Heath said police had a heavy presence in Portswood for a protest on June 17, when officers spotted Jones driving a Ford Transit van without a seatbelt on Welbeck Avenue.
Police pulled alongside Jones on Highfield Lane and signalled for him to lower his window.
Mr Heath said Jones swore at officers and told them: “I am not stopping for you. I will drive home, and you can find me there.”
“He is described as driving off quickly,” the prosecutor added.
Police went to Jones’s home and detained him.
Jones represented himself, admitted both offences and said he was putting on his seatbelt as he pulled away.
He told the court: “The situation was, I was parked by the side of the road. I pulled away and put my seatbelt on at the same time.”
Explaining why he did not stop, Jones said the van contained ten officers and added: “I have got a bit of history with the police.
“I didn’t feel safe stopping there with ten police.”
He added: “I personally feel they are targeting me.”
Jones said he directed officers to his home, about five minutes away, where he met them outside.
He told magistrates: “Bearing in mind this is in front of my whole neighbourhood. I was compliant the whole time. Relaxed.
“My work van was confiscated; I lost my job over it.”
The chairman of the magistrates’ bench, Chris Willsher, recognised Jones, telling the court he had been a teacher at Bitterne Park School while Jones was a student.
Willsher asked the prosecutor and Jones whether they objected to him hearing the case. Neither did.
Jones was fined £633 and ordered to pay a £253 victim surcharge and £85 in costs, taking the total to £971.
