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EDL member jailed for Liverpool Street football brawl

By
July 22, 2013
EDL, English Defence League, football, Jailed, threatening behaviour

An English Defence League (EDL) member has been jailed for nine months after taking part in a pre-arranged brawl between football supporters in London.

Joel Titus, 19, took part in the “pitched battle” between supporters of Brentford and Leyton Orient outside Liverpool Street station in May 2010.

Titus, of Pinner, north-west London, and five other men admitted affray.

The brawl, during which people punched, kicked and threw bottles, was by “prior arrangement”, the Old Bailey heard.

Dean Wells, 22, of Isleworth, west London, was jailed for 12 months, David Mitchell, 19, of Littlehampton, West Sussex, was sentenced to seven months and Andrew Hudson, 26, of Hornchurch, Essex, was given an eight-month jail term.

Steven Donovan, 20, of Hayes, west London, and Thomas Armstrong, 24, of Woodford Green, Essex, were each given suspended six-month sentences.

‘Frightening spectacle’

Judge Timothy Pontius said all six had taken part in a “disgraceful display of violence” that terrified ordinary people using a busy railway station as bottles were thrown across the street during the fight.

The “pitched battle” must have been a “frightening spectacle”, he said, which required a “firm deterrent message”.

Titus, an A-level student, has previously been convicted of threatening behaviour for swearing at a police officer who was trying to break up a fight. He will be sentenced in May.

The incident took place while he was on bail following the football brawl, the Old Bailey heard.

He also has a previous caution for battery after hitting a journalist during a right-wing demonstration in December 2009.

The teenager is a prominent member of the EDL and has been interviewed on the BBC’s Newsnight programme speaking as the leader of the organisation’s youth division.

Henrietta Paget, for the prosecution, said Brentford-supporting hooligans had travelled to the scene after a game against Hartlepool, to meet rival Leyton Orient supporters, who were on their way back from a match at Colchester in Essex.

The court heard Hudson told police that there was “history” between the clubs dating back to the 1980s.

Titus said he went to the scene after hearing some commotion, but denied any knowledge of the brawl being prearranged.

All six were given football banning orders.

BBC News

EDL protest arrests: Two face court

By
July 22, 2013
conditional discharge, Drugs, EDL, English Defence League, threatening behaviour

Two men have appeared in court after being arrested on the day of the English Defence League (EDL) protest.

Mark Alan Taylor, 39, of The Fairway, Leicester, admitted using threatening and abusive words or behaviour and was give a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £50 costs.

Jay Joseph Willis, 30, of Moorhills Cresent, Leighton Buzzard, admitted obstructing a police officer in the execution of his duty and being in possession of a small quantity of cocaine.

He will face a trial at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on January 17.

Both a condition of Taylor’s discharge and a condition of Willis’ bail ordered them not to attend any defence league or anti-Islamic gatherings of more than three people.

Both Taylor and Willis were arrested in Gallowtree Gate on October 9 following trouble at an EDL demonstration.

This is Leicester

Drinker racially abused taxi driver

By
July 22, 2013
BNP, criminal damage, Racial Conviction, religiously aggravated harassment

A RACIST thug downed more than 15 pints and numerous shots before abusing Asian taxi drivers and smashing a taxi window.

When police asked Jamie Takle how he thought the drivers felt about being racially abused, he replied: “To be honest I vote BNP – what does that tell you? They should all go back to their own country.”

Takle, of Aldwick Avenue, Hartcliffe, had been so aggressive on the night in question that a police officer had to spray CS gas in his face to arrest him.

The 23-year-old appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court yesterday to be sentenced after pleading guilty to three counts of racially aggravated harassment, one of racially aggravated criminal damage and one of harassment on December 24 last year.

Paul Ricketts, prosecuting, said Takle had been drinking at several pubs with friends including the Hartcliffe Inn and Three Lions in Bedminster by which time he had consumed nine pints of cider.

Later Takle went into town and headed to Antix on Park Street where he continued to down pints and shots, Mr Ricketts said.

“The defendant left the club and walked down Park Street where he flagged down a taxi,” he said.

“There was then a dispute about a fare and the taxi driver was subjected to racist abuse.

“The defendant then removed his belt, wrapped it around his fist and punched the side window with the buckle causing it to smash.”

Mr Ricketts said a second taxi – in which the occupants were also Asian – witnessed the incident and were also racially abused by Takle.

Mr Ricketts said: “Police arrived a short time later and the defendant made off resulting in a short chase.

“The defendant still had the belt wrapped around his hand. The defendant moved towards the police officer who deployed CS gas spray and the defendant was arrested.

“In interview the following afternoon he was asked how he thought the victims of his abuse would feel.

“He replied ‘To be honest I vote BNP – what does that tell you?

“They should all go back to their own country.”

Mr Ricketts added that the first taxi driver was strongly offended and felt he should not have to put up with abuse while he was at work.

John Search, defending, said it was only right that Takle was assessed by the probation service so they could address concerns about his alcohol abuse and racism issues.

Takle will be sentenced on March 23. He was released on bail.

This is Bristol

Three plead guilty to EDL Blackburn charges

By
July 22, 2013
assault, EDL, English Defence League, threatening behaviour

THREE protesters who attended the English Defence League rally in Blackburn earlier this month have appeared in court.

Lisa Swales, 27, of Eastfield Gardens, Bradford, pleaded guilty to assaulting PC John Cuthbertson.

David Monks, 34, of Haydock Street, Bolton, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour.

Robert Gavin Tromans, 29, of Beverley Road, West Bromwich, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour.

All three were remanded on bail for pre-sentence reports.

Lancashire Telegraph

SDL member posted racist messages on Facebook to promote fascist group

By
July 22, 2013
community order, facebook, Public order offence, Racial Conviction, scottish defence league

A man who used his Facebook account to post racist messages has been given community service.

Raymond Strachan, 21, used the social networking site to promote his support of fascist group the Scottish Defence League.

On Tuesday, Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard how Strachan visited various pages on Facebook and left various messages on them in an attempt to stir up racial hatred.

Strachan, from Edinburgh, started posting the messages in July 2011 and continued until he was caught in January this year. Police tracked him down after receiving complaints from other internet users.

The postings, made from his house and other locations in Edinburgh, abused various different racial groups.

Strachan was convicted of breaching the 1986 Public Order Act at a hearing last month.

Sheriff William Holligan him to 200 hours of community service.

Speaking after the case, the procurator fiscal for the East of Scotland, John Logue, welcomed the sentence.

Mr Logue said: “Police and prosecutors across the country take such offences extremely seriously. I hope this case sends a warning to those who think that offences committed on the internet are in some way immune from the reach of the law.

“Prejudice and hatred has no place in Scotland and we will continue to do all in our powers to eradicate it.”

STV

Animal ban after llamas left to starve

By
July 22, 2013
EDL, English Defence League, Infidels, Suspended sentence

A HERD of llamas starved after being deprived of food on a holding in Yorkshire, a court was told.

Harrogate magistrates heard five of John Shaw’s llamas died, while the other animals were found in an emaciated state in a frozen field on the outskirts of Knaresborough in February, with scant grazing, an empty ring-feeder and dilapidated shelter.

Shaw, 41, of Littondale Avenue, Knaresborough, said he could not afford to feed them.

He pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering leading to death and two counts of not providing a suitable diet and failing to protect the llamas from pain, suffering and disease.

He was jailed for 12 weeks, suspended for a year, and ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work, with £3,050 costs, and given a 10-year ban on keeping animals.


Yorkshire Post

Man jailed for terrifying attack on Thornhill Lees family

By
July 22, 2013
Burglary, Jailed, possessing an offensive weapon, Racial Conviction, Racist Abuse, threatening behaviour


A MAN who wielded knives, broke down his neighbours’ front door and threatened to kill them, has been jailed.

Leeds Crown Court heard how Daniel Smith had 167 previous convictions before he was locked up for 10 further offences today.

The 39-year-old was not present for his sentencing because he was taken back to Armley prison from the court at lunchtime after destroying two toilets in the court cells.

Smith pleaded guilty to charges of burglary, common assault, possessing an offensive weapon and making threats to kill at a hearing in May.

Today, the court heard how on August 26 last year, Smith hurled racist abuse at a family living near him in Victoria Road, Thornhill Lees.

He attacked their front door with a knife and eventually broke it down.

When inside the house, he threatened to kill the occupants before he was forced back outside.

Sentencing, Judge Guy Kearl QC, said: “They were very real threats, the victims believed, being confronted in their house by a man who they believed was going to kill them.”

Smith was sentenced to nine years in prison and given a restraining order banning him from having any contact with family or entering Victoria Road.

Dewsbury Reporter

English Defence League’s planned march on mosque is pointless

By
July 19, 2013
EDL, English Defence League, Racial Conviction, religiously aggravated intentional harassment, Suspended sentence

Dudley council criticises far-right group for going ahead with protest at abandoned development

A member of the English Defence League at a demonstration

A member of the English Defence League at a demonstration. Photograph: Rui Vieira/PA Wire/Press Association Images

The English Defence League’s summer of protests to target Muslim communities is to continue with a demonstration against a “super mosque”, even though the development is no longer going ahead.

The far-right group will return to Dudley next Saturday to demonstrate against the abandoned mosque and community centre project. The council has branded the protest “pointless” and a “waste of taxpayers’ money” as police will be required to ensure safety.

A plea from the council for the organisation to cancel the demonstration came as an EDL protester appeared in court today for putting a pig’s head on the wall of Dudley central mosque.

Anne Millward, leader of the council, said: “The EDL’s unnecessary visits, which often result in major disruption, violence and public disorder, cost the taxpayer and local communities thousands of pounds.

“We are opposed to this proposed event and call on the organisers to cancel this pointless waste of taxpayers’ money.”

But a promotional video by the Bristol division of the EDL said: “The Dudley Muslim Association is determined to force this mosque on the people of Dudley … The EDL will keep coming back until it is scrapped.”

The previous protest against the mosque cost the council over £150,000, damaged local business revenue and resulted in 12 people being arrested.

A council spokesman said: “Council bosses have made it clear that outside extremists can make no contribution to local decisions and reminded the EDL that the plans for a mosque on Hall Street are not currently being pursued.

“The EDL has opposed the former proposal for a mosque but the council has reiterated the fact that the authority and the Dudley Muslim Association have agreed to pursue an alternative site, making the EDL’s visit pointless.”

Margot James, the MP for Stourbridge, near Dudley, wrote to the Home Office asking that police powers be extended to enable them to ban all forms of protest on the grounds of public order when they have a case to do so. She says she is keen to maintain freedom of expression but “a loophole that allows the EDL to call their activity a rally not a march, so as to escape a potential ban, should be closed”.

The league has demonstrated in Newcastle and Bradford but cancelled a planned protest in Tower Hamlets, London, after one of its leaders, Tommy Robinson, told the East London Advertiser it would be a “suicide mission”.

An EDL protester, Kevin Smith, has been given a suspended eight-week prison sentence for putting a pig’s head on the wall of Dudley central mosque in the Castle Hill area of the town on 29 May.

Police believe Smith, 52, of Brierley Hill, was on his way to the Newcastle demonstration when the act took place.He was arrested on 2 June and has been found guilty of religiously aggravated intentional harassment at Dudley magistrates court. Muslims regard pigs as unclean.

Smith was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and among the conditions imposed was an order that he stay out of the Castle Hill area.

Muslims account for about 2.5% of the population of Dudley. The council says it is exploring the possibility of developing the existing Dudley central mosque as an alternative to the scrapped Hall Street scheme.

Unite Against Fascism has pledged to hold a counter-demonstration next Saturday after protesting against the EDL in April by holding a multi-faith celebration.

The Guardian

Two in court after Dewsbury EDL demo

By
July 19, 2013
conditional discharge, Drugs, EDL, English Defence League

TWO men who were arrested during a demonstration in Dewsbury have appeared in court.

Police made five arrests when the English Defence League held a demonstration outside Dewsbury Town Hall on Saturday June 30.

On Wednesday, 20-year old Gary Wellings, of Dudley, was convicted of using threatening words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

He was given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £85 costs at Kirklees Magistrates Court.

Magistrates also dealt with Kevin Smith, 53, of Brierley Hill in the West Midlands.

He must pay a £150 fine, £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge after he admitted possessing mephedrone.

A drug forfeiture and destruction order was also made.

One of the other men arrested was jailed last week for two offences.

The two others were released on police bail. One was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and the other for possessing an offensive weapon.


Dewsbury Reporter

‘Haha, haha’: Gloating killer who stabbed teenager over Facebook feud drew cartoon of murder

By
July 19, 2013
murder

A teenager who stabbed to death a 17-year-old over a Facebook feud scrawled a ‘sick’ cartoon of the killing on his cell wall.

Cody Turner died after being stabbed in the chest with a 10-inch long carving knife by Cameron Schofield, also 17.

Manchester Crown Court heard that the victim’s family had gone to Schofield’s Bolton home to confront him.

Cody Turner was stabbed to death
Killer: Cameron Schofield murdered Cody Turner

Killing: Cody Turner (left) was stabbed to death by Cameron Schofield (right) in a row over posting ‘abusive’ comments about a family tragedy on Facebook

They suspected he was responsible for abusive comments about a family tragedy posted on Facebook.

Cody’s sister Lois and Schofield’s mother Jennifer began fighting, said Ian Unsworth QC, prosecuting.

Schofield then stabbed Cody with ‘severe’ force, using the largest of a small arsenal of knives he had in the house.

He had planned to claim he acted in self-defence at trial but confessed to murdering Cody on the day the hearing was due to begin.

The 17-year-old will now spend at least 11 years behind bars before the authorities are allowed to consider his release and could serve much longer than the minimum term.

The court heard that in a ‘chilling’ final insult, Schofield scrawled a picture of his crime while on remand earlier this year.

The sketch, on a pillowcase recovered from his cell, depicts a man with a knife sticking from his chest. Next to it the teenage killer scrawled a smiley face and the words, ‘haha, haha’.

Classmates: Cody passed 12 GCSEs at Sharples School in Bolton, which his alleged attacker also attendedClassmates: Cody passed 12 GCSEs at Sharples School in Bolton, which his alleged attacker also attended

Sentencing, Judge Clement Goldstone QC, called the crude drawing ‘sick’.

He said: ‘How you could ever have thought that what you had done was funny defies belief. It’s a chilling piece of evidence for which only a very limited excuse can lie in your troubled mental state at the time. Cody Turner’s death was as tragic as it was unnecessary.’

Mr Unsworth described how Cody – who left Sharples School with top GCSE grades – made a ‘forlorn attempt’ to flee after being stabbed.

A neighbour then saw him crumple to the floor like ‘a puppet whose strings had been cut’. Cody’s relatives and onlookers battled to save his life as the killer ran inside to call 999. Cody was declared dead at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

After being charged with murder Schofield told police: ‘I just want his family to know I’m really sorry and I didn’t mean to do it.’

While he was on remand concerns for his mental health grew after an officer saw him self-harming and pacing in his cell – and the disturbing pillowcase picture was found.

Defending, Stephen Meadowcroft QC said: ‘They came to his house and they came to confront him. He didn’t go looking for trouble.’

The court heard that childhood experiences had left Schofield scarred by a post-traumatic disorder.

However, sentencing, Judge Clement Goldstone said this ‘provided limited explanation or excuse’.

Sending him down, he told Schofield: ‘By your wicked violence you have snuffed out the life of a boy, who, like you, had his whole life to look forward to.

Daily Mail