Archive

Racial Conviction

Astley Bridge mosque protester hurled racist abuse from bus roof

By
June 8, 2015
EDL, English Defence League, Racial Conviction
Mosque protest

Mosque protest

A PROTESTER has been convicted of shouting racist abuse from the top of a bus leaving a demonstration against a planned new mosque in Astley Bridge.

Shaun Jones had been at a demonstration led by the North West Infidels at the site of the proposed mosque in Blackburn Road on on Saturday, August 2, last year.

After the protest, Jones was seen to racially abuse a group of Asian men after poking his head through the roof of the bus and gesticulating at the crowd.

Jones left but police circulated his description and he was promptly arrested.

The 34-year-old, of Cromwell Road, Eccles, pleaded guilty to the charge at Bolton Magistrates Court.

He was conditionally discharged for three years and ordered to pay £415 costs.

Jones had previously denied the charges but changed his plea, with the period of his conditional discharge rising from two to three years because it was racially aggravated.

Ch Supt Shaun Donnellan said: “There is no place for any type of racist behaviour, especially those individuals who use the guise of a peaceful protest as a way of verbally attacking our community.

“Any reports made to police will be thoroughly investigated and positive action will be taken.”

Dozens of protestors attended the rally organised by the far right group the North West Infidels.

It was the second large-scale demonstration at the site of the application made by Taiyabah Islamic Centre, with dozens of police officers deployed to control the protests.

Hundreds of members of the local community also took to the streets.

Plans were approved by Bolton Council in July at a meeting which was disrupted by angry protesters from campaigners when the decision was made.

Councillors had to be escorted from the Festival Hall at Bolton Town Hall while the protesters were escorted out.

Cllr Guy Harkin, who represents Crompton ward, said: “Some of the behaviour at the protests was obscene and disgusting.

“I am very pleased that there has been a conviction and regret that there have not been more, although I understand that the police have to keep the peace and it is very difficult to gather evidence in this sort of melee.”

The plot of land just off Canning Street has been earmarked for a mosque, complete with a dome, minaret tower and 19 classrooms.

Those behind the proposals say the new building will bridge the gap between “negative perceptions” of Islam and the faith’s true meaning.
Bolton News

JAILED: Wolverhampton extremist who threatened to blow up Express & Star

By
May 1, 2015
Jailed, Racial Conviction

A right wing extremist who threatened to blow up the Express & Star has today been jailed for eight months.

Darren Fletcher outside Wolverhampton Crown Court in November 2013

Darren Fletcher outside Wolverhampton Crown Court in November 2013

The warning was among a string of postings made on Facebook by Darren Fletcher that broke the terms of Criminal Anti Social Behaviour Order imposed on him along with a 12-month prison term in January last year for trying to stir-up racial hatred, a judge heard.

In those days he was called Christopher Phillips but tried to hide his identity by later changing his name by deed poll and using the handle of Whitest Knight to put extremist comments on the internet after his release from jail, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

On November 4 he posted a comment on a Facebook page supporting another man jailed for airing anti-Semitic views.

Fletcher’s message, outlined to the court, read: “Express & Star. The worst. The **** they wrote about me is unforgivable. Their head office needs bombing.”

In other postings on the same site he poured out his hatred for the police and the current state of Britain, the court heard.

He said he hoped the country came ‘crashing to its knees’ and expressed a wish that the terrorist organisation ISIS ‘bombed the **** out of the police’.

The 25-year-old was arrested by counter terrorism officers in a swoop on his home in Kitchen Lane, Wednesfield, on November 13, said Mr Robert Price, prosecuting.

Analysis of the defendant’s mobile phone and laptop computer confirmed that he had been the person who posted the offensive Facebook comments while posing as Whitest Knight, the court was told.

Mr Nicholas Towers, defending, said the law breaking comments had been made on a Facebook page supported by people with similar right wing views to those of Fletcher.

The lawyer argued: “He was preaching to the choir and expecting nods of agreement from his audience. This was not aimed at causing widespread offence.”

Fletcher, who suffers from autism and whose father committed suicide, was said to have recently attempted to take his own life.

Mr Towers continued: “He has an obsessive personality and is unable to see normal social limits, but with the far right movement he has discovered that the more extreme his views, the greater the approval.”

Fletcher was originally jailed in January last year after posting a YouTube video showing him dressed as a Klu Klux Klansman while dancing holding a golliwog hanging from a noose.

One of the images he posted on Facebook

One of the images he posted on Facebook

A KKK outfit, National Front membership card, White Pride Worldwide flag and a copy of a letter to a German acquaintance of mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik were uncovered by police during an earlier raid on his home linked to the offence that put him in jail.

Mr Towers argued that the defendant needed help to ‘move off his current obsession with racism and to something more productive’.

The lawyer suggested that a prison sentence would simply serve to harden those far right beliefs.

Forklift truck driver Fletcher, whose partner is 18 weeks pregnant, admitted breaking the terms of his Criminal Anti Social Behaviour Order and was put back behind bars by Judge John Warner who told him: “You deliberately, defiantly and flagrantly defied the order and if I do not send you to prison it would act as a green light for you to carry on in the same way.

“You knew exactly what you were doing and realised you were likely to go to prison as a result.

“No doubt, you hope to be regarded as a martyr to your cause, but this punishment has nothing to do with preventing you from holding extremist view.

After sentencing, Detective Chief Supt Sue Southern, head of West Midlands CTU, said: “Fletcher blatantly flouted the conditions the court imposed on him by posting racist and anti-Semitic comments.

“We understand how offensive and distressing this type of behaviour can be and worked to bring him before the courts for a second time.

“West Midlands Police takes all forms of extremism seriously and we urge anyone with any concerns to contact us on 101.”

Express & Star

Newport man fined for posting racist comments on Facebook

By
March 30, 2015
EDL, English Defence League, Racial Conviction, Uncategorized

JG FB

A NEWPORT man has been fined after posting racist comments on Facebook.

Jason Gwyer, aged 32, of Brown Close, was convicted of a racially aggravated public order offence after posting racists comments on Facebook in relation to the annual Ashura march which takes place in Newport.

The march organised by the Islamic Society for Wales was to commemorate the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain who was killed in Karbala, Iraq, more than 1,300 years ago.

The details of the march were published in the Argus in November, 2014, and Gwyer posted a photo of the article along with racist comments on his Facebook page on November 12, 2014.

Gwyer posted: “Need this to go viral!!!! Muslims think they are going to have a nice little march thru my city on Sunday!!! think not!!! Need as much force as possable. We need to stand up and tell these vile pigs where to go!!! Who is with me??? Please share.”

He was found guilty at Newport Magistrates Court and fined £165. He also had to pay costs of £620.

He was also charged with producing class b drug cannabis and possession of a class b drug which was cannabis. He pleaded guilty to both offences.

He received a 12 month community order, a £100 fine and the drugs were ordered for destruction.

PC Ricky Thomas, investigating officer, after the hearing, said: “Gwent Police will not tolerate any type of hate crime in our communities. We will investigate it and put evidence before the courts for the offender to be dealt with.

“I hope this serves as a warning to people who think that by posting on social media sites that it is anonymous in some way – it isn’t and it’s still an offence. We would encourage anyone who has concerns about anything they see on social media to report it to us on 101.”

South Wales Argus

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JG

Man wrote on Facebook he hoped missing child Mikaeel was ‘under bus’

By
December 5, 2014
EDL, English Defence League, Jailed, Racial Conviction

A man posted on Facebook he hoped missing toddler Mikaeel Kular was found “under the wheels of a bus”.

Shaun Moth posted a series of offensive posts on a group on the social networking website the day before the toddler’s body was found in woodland in Kirkcaldy.

The 45-year-old, from Whitehills, Aberdeenshire, pleaded guilty to conducting himself in a disorderly manner, posting grossly offensive comments on Facebook and breach of the peace aggravated by religious prejuidice at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on Thursday.

Fiscal depute David Bernard said: “On the 16th of January this year Mikaeel Kular, who at the time was aged three, was reported missing by his mother in the Edinburgh area.

“A national media release was sent by Police Scotland to try to trace the child.

“On that date a post was put on the page for a group entitled Scotland United Against the racist SDL.

“During the evening of the 16th of January, one of the administrators for that Facebook page logged on to the page and that account to view recent activity.

“At this time she noticed a comment about the missing child which was made at 1745 hours that day by a user named Shaun Moth.

“The comment read ‘Hopefully he’ll be found… under the wheels of a bus’.”

Several other comments were posted on Facebook by Moth and the administrator was “so offended” she decided to hide them from public view.

Among them was a statement from Moth that he would laugh when the child’s body was found.

Another post read: “I care not. One less ethnic regardless of his age is a good thing. Said what I wanted to and annoyed a few of your ilk. My work is done here. wpww 14/88.”

Mr Bernard said the acronym wpww was understood to stand for White Power World Wide and 14/88 was a Neo-Nazi term for “Heil Hitler”.

Moth also posted the comment: “Do you look for missing white kids as well?” on the page and called for another account user to concentrate on getting “that Arab loving ape” out of the White House.

The court heard Moth also posted a comment about Jews on the page.

The Facebook administrator contacted police and officers carried out a search of Moth’s home on January 29.

During his police interview, he described himself as a Nationalist Socialist, told officers he often went on to the Facebook page for debate and classed it as a left wing Marxist page for all Communist types.

Moth was asked if he was racist and said he was an intelligent man and “not a mindless yob”.

He said in the interview: “My heritage is being stripped by these people. It’s being systematically eroded and attacked by these people”.

Sheriff William Summers remanded him in custody to be sentenced at a later date.

Police said the case should serve as a reminder to people that they would be brought to court if they posted offensive material online.

Chief Inspector John McCluskey said: “This case is another example of Police Scotland’s commitment to pursue those who cause offence and distress to others on social media.

“People need to remember that they cannot hide behind social media and that if they make vile offensive comments online they will be prosecuted.”

STV

From his Youtube account:-

Shaun Moth

EDL Man Jailed For Sword Attack

By
December 3, 2014
assault, EDL, English Defence League, Jailed, Racial Conviction

Gareth Devlin

An EDL supporter has been jailed for five years today after being found guilty of attacking a man with a samurai sword.

Gareth Devlin from Port Clarence, Teeside attacked a group of Polish nationals who were watching the World Cup in July. During the attack, Devlin threatened to kill all Polish people.

The horrific attack was caught on camera by an amateur photographer who handed the evidence to police.

The Teeside racist can be seen waving the sword at the group of Poles which sadly included a group of children.

He then attacked one of the men causing a wound to the man’s back that required five stiches.

Devlin,28 admitted wounding with intent, affray and possession of an offensive weapon.

Another man, Joseph Smithson also admitted affray. He was given a two-year community order with 120 hours’ unpaid work and a year’s supervision.

Gareth Devlin is no stranger to crime, having 40 previous offences on his lengthy criminal record, including four for violence.He was sent to a young offenders’ institution in 2007 for having a home-made machete in a public place.

Hope not Hate

Rothwell party gatecrashers jailed after brutal attack

By
November 13, 2014
assault, EDL, English Defence League, Jailed, Racial Conviction
Jordan Bell-Henshaw

Jordan Bell-Henshaw

Three men who viciously beat a black teenager while making monkey noises and shouting racist abuse have been jailed.

Judge Michael Fowler said that Jordan Bell-Henshaw, 22, Liam Edwards, 21, and Kyle Hankins, 20, attacked the 16-year-old out of feelings of “jealousy and inadequacy” as he jailed them at Northampton Crown Court on Monday, after they had been told they were not welcome at a girl’s 17th birthday party.

The court heard the trio were part of a larger group which arrived uninvited at an address in Harrington Road, Rothwell, on May 31 last year. After being told they were not welcome, they turned their anger on a 16-year-old black teenager, repeatedly punching and kicking him even while he lay on the floor.

Jonathan Cox, prosecuting, said the group made “monkey chants” and shouted racist abuse during the unprovoked attack in the front garden of the house.

Bell-Henshaw, of Cambridge Street, Rothwell, was described as the leader of the group, although he denied it. He gave evidence during the sentencing and denied hearing any racist abuse.

However, Judge Fowler said he did not doubt evidence presented earlier this year by the 17-year-old party host.

She described how the group became “immediately aggressive” after being denied entry and began challenging guests to a fight.

Mr Cox said: “Their bravery dissipated and they ran off as they were told the police had been called.”

The trio were arrested but were initially unrepentant, admitting they had seen a fight but not knowing who was involved. However, they each pleaded guilty to racially aggravated ABH on the first day of their trial.

Hankins pleaded guilty to a further charge of GBH relating to an incident at another house party when he shoved a 16-year-old down a flight of stairs, breaking his leg.

Bell-Henshaw additionally pleaded guilty to an offence of common assault, driving with excess alcohol and aggravated vehicle-taking following an incident at a house party on New Year’s Day 2014.

Bell-Henshaw was jailed for two years, 10 months. Hankins, of Elizabeth Road, Rothwell, was jailed for two years, six months and Edwards, of Spencer Street, Rothwell, for 18 months.


Northants Telegraph

The EDL supporter in this article is Jordan Bell-Henshaw and these grabs are from his facebook account.

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Vile racists left doorman at Newcastle bar with broken leg for telling them to leave at closing time

By
October 20, 2014
EDL, English Defence League, Jailed, Racial Conviction

The victim of racists Shaun Marshall and Dean Bartley says “these days, you would think people would get used to black people in this country”

Dean Bartley

Dean Bartley



These two racist thugs left a doorman with a broken leg after attacking him because he asked them to leave at closing time.

Shaun Marshall and Dean Bartley were upset that kicking out time arrived shortly after they had bought pints and refused to leave.

Door supervisor Davison Jersey stepped in to tell them they had to go and was met with a volley of sick racist abuse.

Marshall and Bartley spat at Mr Jersey before landing a series of punches and kicks.

Graeme O’Sullivan, prosecuting, said: “It’s clear from the CCTV he continued to be aggressive, as did Bartley, towards Mr Jersey.

“Their swearing and racist abuse continued and both men spat at the door supervisor.

“Marshall punched Mr Jersey to the right side of his cheek and Bartley joined in, running round and punching him and kicking him in the legs.

“Mr Jersey hit out but both men came at him and he fell to the floor and the men continued kicking him for some time after that.”

Marshall eventually ran off and Bartley followed him after other customers told him off for continuing to shout abuse at the now injured Mr Jersey.

The doorman was left with a broken leg and bruising and swelling to his legs and hand.

Marshall, 24, who has 30 previous convictions and Bartley, 23, who has 80 previous convictions, including two offences of racially aggravated harassment, both pleaded guilty to racially aggravated grievous bodily harm.

Marshall, of Elliott House, Newcastle, who also admitted criminal damage, was jailed for three years and seven months.

Bartley, of Warkworth Crescent, Newcastle, was locked up for three years.

John Foley, for Marshall, said: “The thing that instigated the violence was they had both been served with a pint at the bar and, having paid for it, they were told to leave it and get out.

“That seemed unfair and annoyed them and they lost control.”

Jonathan Devlin, for Bartley, said: “The route of his problem is drink. The sooner he realises drinking only gets him into trouble, the sooner it will be that he no longer comes to this court.”
The doorman was knocked to the floor, where the pair continued kicking him, leaving him with a fractured fibula and bruising and swelling.

As the thugs were locked up at Newcastle Crown Court, Mr Jersey told in a statement how the racist attack left him considering quitting his job.

He said: “These days you would think people would get used to black people in this country.

“I’ve been in this country 17 years but this vicious attack has made me rethink this job. I will probably leave this job now.”

Marshall and Bartley were drinking at Nancy’s Bordello, on Stepney Lane, Newcastle, in the early hours of Saturday March 22.

Around 2am customers were asked to leave and everyone complied except Marshall and Bartley, who had just ordered another pint.

When they ignored the bar manager, Mr Jersey was asked to intervene and tried to usher the drunken pair out.

At that point Marshall became abusive and launched into a racist rant, then Bartley joined in too.

As they reached the door, Marshall began punching a glass panel covering a menu, damaging it.

Newcastle Chronicle

The EDL supporter in this article is Dean Bartley.

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Mark Hawksby guilty of threatening disabled busker in York

By
September 5, 2014
Racial Conviction, Suspended sentence, threatening behaviour

Mark Hawksby

A FORMER soldier from York racially abused a disabled busker in the city centre because he had seen him on TV boasting about claiming benefits, a court has heard.

Mark Hawksby, 34, spotted Viorel Dinu in Coney Street, a week after having seen him on Channel 5’s Gypsies on Benefits and Proud.

Hawksby, of St Mary’s Close in Wigginton, recognised Mr Dinu while he was playing the accordion and rounded on him.

Mr Dinu, who has no legs, was sitting on a skateboard in a shop doorway.

Hawksby claimed there was so much money in his coat by 11.30am that he tripped over it on the pavement.

At York Magistrates Court, Hawksby said: “I had a go at him about being on the programme and what he had said.

“He said he had come to Britain purposely because it was a soft touch.

“I said ‘You’re out of order for going on this TV programme and saying you can milk the system’.”

The court heard Hawksby threw the coat into the gutter in Coney Street, scattering the money.

He also grabbed Dinu’s accordion and threw it into the road, saying: “This is English money for English people.”

The court heard a puzzled crowd formed and Hawksby was grabbed by a girl from a hen party, then stormed off, yelling: “I will see you do not busk in York again.”

Dinu, who travels the country telling people he lost his legs as a child when he was run over by a train, did not report the incident and did not co-operate with police who investigated after complaints from the public.

Hawksby was arrested after his picture was taken by University of York Professor Nick Brown, who shared the images with North Yorkshire Police on Facebook.

Hawksby told officers: “He is not even from York. It costs 23 to 25 quid on the train so he must be earning some right money busking.”

Hawksby denied racially aggravated threatening behaviour but was convicted.

He was given a four month suspended jail sentence and ordered to pay £100 costs and an £80 surcharge.

Mr Dinu had told the Channel 5 programme that he and other Romanians had come to the UK because it was a “soft touch” the court heard.

The Press

mark yorkie

Elswick racist jailed after family driven out of their new home as they try to move in

By
August 12, 2014
EDL, English Defence League, Jailed, Racial Conviction, Uncategorized

A family were subjected to a terrifying racist attack by a gang of yobs in the west end of Newcastle as they tried to move in their furniture

Daniel McStay, jailed for racist attacks in Elswick

Daniel McStay, jailed for racist attacks in Elswick

Vile racist thugs drove an Asian family out of their new home as they tried to move in.

The Ali family pulled up outside their new house in Elswick, Newcastle, only to be greeted by a seething gang of young yobs.

Boxer Daniel McStay and five or six youths started punching and kicking their car, telling them to get off “their estate” and threatening to kill them.

Terrified Mr Ali, who had his wife and three daughters in the car, frantically began reversing to try to get away as the gang kicked his car.

One of them threw a pint glass of beer at the back of his car, which smashed showering the car with alcohol and glass.

Fifteen minutes later McStay and two youths subjected another man to a racist attack as he waited in his car for his friend outside Elswick mosque.

As McStay, 22, was jailed for eight months, Mr Ali told how the incident had left him and his family scared to move in.

He said: “We had been looking forward to moving in to the new house but now we do not wish to do so.

“My daughters and wife are extremely upset, we have not been involved in an incident like this before.

“My family have been racially targeted for no reason. The damage to my car can be repaired, however mentally we have all suffered.”

Newcastle Crown Court heard the family were taking furniture to the house on Brittania Place, Elswick, around 3pm on March 23, ahead of moving in.

Just after Mr Ali, his wife and daughters, aged, 10, 18 and 19, pulled up, McStay and the others approached from behind, swigging alcohol.

Neil Pallister, prosecuting, said one of them shouted: “You better not be moving here or we will kill you, this is our estate.”

There followed a tirade of vile racist abuse and a 17-year-old started punching the driver’s side window shouting “Get out of here or I will kill you.”

Mr Pallister said: “All of the males were involved in the racial abuse and McStay joined in.

“Clearly Mr Ali and his family were in great fear and he began reversing his car down the street and turned round to drive away.

“As he reversed his car the group began kicking his car and ran after him and his family.

“One of them threw a pint glass which hit the rear window of the car, smashing glass and showering the car with alcohol as they drove away.”

After getting clear of the attack and reporting it to police, the family saw their car had been dented, causing hundreds of pounds of damage.

Mr Pallister said: “They were too scared and frightened to move into the address.”

Just fifteen minutes later McStay and two youths targeted an 18-year-old as he waited in his car outside Elswick mosque.

He was racially abused and told to leave the area and also had his car kicked.

Mr Pallister said: “The victim was very fearful for his safety and he locked his car door but the males continued to shout racial abuse at him.

“Fearing for his safety he felt obliged to reverse away out of the location. As he slowly drove away the gang followed him, waving their hands to shoo him away and one of them kicked his vehicle.”

Police caught up with them nearby and eventually Mcstay was also charged over the earlier attack after his trainer print was found on Mr Ali’s car.

McStay, of Kenilworth Road, Elswick, pleaded guilty to two charges of racially aggravated harassment, racially aggravated criminal damage and possessing cannabis.

He has previous convictions for offences including racially aggravated threatening words or behaviour, arson and affray.

Andrew Walker, defending, said: “These incidents were utterly reprehensible, deeply unpleasant and grossly offensive to those to whom it was aimed.

“It was pathetic in terms of the ignorance of those involved, who should all be utterly ashamed of themselves.”

Mr Walker added that McStay, who he said was not the prime mover, takes part in unlicenced boxing bouts.

Two 17-year-olds involved in the incidents were sent to the youth court to be dealt with.

Newcastle Chronicle

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Courageous bus passenger praised for speaking out against ‘racist rant’

By
July 24, 2014
EDL, English Defence League, Racial Conviction

A BRAVE bus passenger who challenged a woman’s drunken, racist rant was attacked and spat on, Newbury magistrates have been told.

Afterwards, fellow Thatcham travellers praised victim Christine Dare’s courageous stand. Miss Dare later told police: “I had to act. It was too much to ignore.”

In the dock on Thursday, July 10, was 35-year-old Tara Elaine King, of Fallows Road, Padworth.

Helen Waite, prosecuting, said Ms King was talking to the bus driver in Thatcham, loudly praising the English Defence League, making racist comments and swearing.
Several passengers were incensed, said Ms Waite, “but it was Ms Dare who had the gumption to do something about it”.

Having vainly asked Ms King to keep her opinions to herself and moderate her language because there was a young child nearby, Ms Dare approached the driver and asked him to act, magistrates were told.

But, said Ms Waite, the driver told her to sit down – and when she did, Ms King approached, leaned over and spat on her.

Ms Dare said later: “I was horrified by her actions. I pushed her away, but she was shouting and came at me again; there was a scuffle and I grabbed her hair.”
Ms Waite said: “Very unedifying CCTV footage shows them hanging on to each other’s heads. The defendant was on top of her in her seat. She grabbed Ms Dare’s face and scratched it.

“The bus pulled into a layby and a man came to Ms Dare’s assistance. Police were called and, as she was led away, she told Ms Dare: ‘Look at my face so I can remember you.’”

Passenger Jodie Conyard said she was offended by Ms King’s racist remarks about Muslims and another, John Young, said he was upset to hear a “drunken” Ms King make derogatory comments about black people.

Both praised Ms Dare and offered to give evidence on her behalf when Ms King initially denied assault by beating.

However she later changed her plea to guilty, while not accepting that she spat on Ms Dare.

Although Ms Waite said the Crown stood by its version of events, the court ruled there was no need for a Newton hearing – a mini trial to establish the facts – because the matter would not make a substantial difference to their sentence.
They therefore agreed to accept Ms King’s basis of plea.

She admitted causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress, both at Bath Road, Thatcham, on November 2 last year. Her previous convictions include a racially-aggravated offence, the court heard.

Ben Henriques, defending, said his client suffers post traumatic stress disorder since losing a child 11 years ago.

He added: “There was a two-way struggle. It’s clear from the CCTV. She realises alcohol is a problem and, because she is six months pregnant, has been making strenuous efforts to overcome it.”

He said his client felt she had been provoked, and asked for pre-sentence reports.
Presiding magistrate Sue Campbell said: “This was a very distressing, offensive and unpleasant incident which took place in public.

There are many aggravating features… all options remain open, including custody.”
Ms King was bailed until July 31 while reports are prepared.

Newbury Today