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: Army cadet sergeant groomed, exploited and raped 12-year-old girl who became “infatuated” with him

By
June 8, 2015
Jailed
Shaun Jones, 19, of Haydn Road, West Derby, jailed for nine years for sex attacks on girl, 12,

Shaun Jones, 19, of Haydn Road, West Derby, jailed for nine years for sex attacks on girl, 12,

A Merseyside army cadet sergeant who groomed, exploited and raped a vulnerable 12-year-old schoolgirl was today jailed for nine years.

Predator Shaun Jones manipulated and humiliated his child victim as he carried out a string of vile sex attacks when he was aged 17.

Jones, of Haydn Road, West Derby, was today locked up on his 19th birthday after admitting a raft of 20 sex offence charges.

Liverpool Crown Court heard how Jones’s victim became “infatuated” and “obsessed” after he put her “under his spell”.

Judge David Aubrey, QC, said: “You took away her innocence, you took away her childhood, you took away her virginity.

“You sexually assaulted her in a variety of different ways over a period of time.

“I am quite satisfied that you were manipulating her and were doing so for your own sexual gratification.”

The court heard how Jones made the girl perform sex acts upon him, raped her, and indecently attacked the youngster in public.

He also demanded the girl send x-rated images and video of herself, and sent explicit ones in return.

The youngster told police that Jones had made her “fall in love” with him, even though she “didn’t want to be”.

She told officers: “I knew it wasn’t right. I knew I shouldn’t be doing it but I became obsessed with him.”

The girl also said she blamed herself and believed what happened to her was her own fault.

But Judge Aubrey said: “She was wrong about that. It wasn’t her fault at all.

“It was yours, in consequence of your grooming, your exploitation.

“That observation by her illustrates the psychological harm and the scars you have left.

“She was the victim, you were the perpetrator.”

The court heard that the girl was undergoing counselling and had become withdrawn, often locking herself in her bedroom.

Judge Aubrey said she had suffered “everlasting and permanent” damage.

Robert Wyn Jones, defending, said Jones was remorseful and had tried to take his life while on remand in prison.

He said his client had “excelled” while in the cadets.

Mr Wyn Jones said: “He tells me there have been suicide attempts while at Altcourse, so to a degree he is a vulnerable young man.

“But I can’t press that too far because he initiated the relationship and persisted in it.

“He has asked me to apologise on his behalf.”

Jones was also indefinitely banned from associating with children and changing his name under the terms of a sexual harm prevention order.

Liverpool Echo

Jones was part of the Liverpool Scouse Nationalists, one of the various splinter groups. Thanks to the North West Infidels for bringing it to our attention.

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Bellsmyre yob claims knife in his sock was broken

By
June 8, 2015
Uncategorized

A SERIAL blade carrier claimed he had a Swiss lockback knife shoved down his sock because he was going to fix it.

James Marsland made the bizarre claim that the lockback knife had broken when he and his cousin tried to cut around empty plastic bottles to make cups at a last-minute house party.

He had gone out to buy more alcohol with a friend, with the knife stuffed in his sock, when he was spotted by cops in an unmarked car on Howatshaws Road in Bellsmyre on July 22 at 9.40pm.

The 21-year-old, who has two previous convictions for knife carrying and had been in custody since the most recent incident, appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court last week after admitting possessing the knife in a public place.

Malcolm Macleod, fiscal depute, said: “The accused was asked if he consented to being voluntarily searched. He raised his arms and said ‘search away, I have nothing on me’. A lockback knife was recovered in his sock. He was immediately cautioned and explained that it was a Swiss lockback knife and that he had it because he was trying to fix it for his cousin because it was broken. He said he was on his way to the shops.”

Marsland’s case had to be stopped and called again – after the wrong knife was brought before the sheriff’s inspection.

Court staff had retrieved a similar looking deadly blade from Marsland’s file following one of his previous convictions.

Roddy Boag, Marsland’s defence lawyer, confirmed that a spring on the knife was broken.

He said: “On the night this happened he went to his cousin’s house and there was an impromptu party and alcohol was being consumed. There were empty plastic bottles in the house and his cousin used this knife to start cutting around the bottle to make cups for the drink which was in the house and the accused had the knife as well. The knife is broken but the locking mechanism is still working.

“He told his cousin he would try and fix it and he put it down his sock and forgot it was there. He left the house with one of the girls to go to the local shop to buy more drink. It is a somewhat unusual explanation and that is what he told police.

“His lack of judgement seems to be because of drink. He cooperated fully with police and consented to them searching him, which confirms his position that he forgot it was there. He understands that a sentence is inevitable.”

Sheriff Simon Fraser said: “This is your third conviction under section 49 for possession of a knife. You just do not seem to be learning. The maximum sentence a court can inflict on you for this is four years, so bear that in mind for next time you decide to take a knife out.”

Marsland was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Daily Record

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Gang threat is ‘no excuse’ for blade

By
June 8, 2015
Uncategorized

A THUG armed himself with a lock knife after claiming he had been bottled by the “young team”.

James Marsland said he took the Poundland locking knife from a party he had been at in Westcliff in the early hours of February 20.

The 20-year-old then walked towards his home in Castlehill’s Cumbrae Crescent South, but was stopped and searched by police at the scheme’s Clyde Stores.

Last week Marsland appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court after admitting the offence.

Fiscal depute Sheila McDermid said officers spotted Marsland at the rear of the store. After being told he would be searched, Marsland admitted to officers he had a knife in his pocket.

When asked why he had it, Marsland told police: “I’ve got it cause I got bottled the other night by the young team”.

Officers asked why the knife was in the open position and Marsland said: “Well, it’s nae use shut”.

Roddy Boag, defending, said Marsland had been taking a shortcut to his home when he was stopped by police.

He added: “The night before he had been assaulted by a group of people known as the young team and that had happened outside his house. He had been struck with a bottle.

“He had been at a party with some friends and he had something to drink which clearly affected his ability to make some proper decisions.

“He got the knife at the party. A number of friends had stated they were staying at the party and he did not want to stay but wanted to go home.

“He tells me that the item was a Poundland locking knife.

“The accused accepts he has a previous conviction and has served a three month sentence.”

Sheriff Simon Pender said in view of Marsland’s record only a custodial sentence would be appropriate.

He added: “The carrying of knives in this jurisdiction is far too common and must be deterred for the safety of the public.”

Marsland was jailed for 18 months.

Daily Record

From his Facebook account.

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Dogs left to suffer in squalid conditions

By
June 7, 2015
EDL, English Defence League

Hagger&HaggerW

SEVEN greyhounds suffered for up to two months in “squalid conditions” without access to food and water.

The emaciated racing dogs were found by horrified RSPCA officers when they swooped on the home of mother and daughter Rose and Rebecca Hagger.

After seeing photographs of the animals – some of whom also had pressure sores and were kept in kennels with a build up of dog mess – Peterborough magistrates banned owner Rebecca (20) from keeping animals for 10 years.

Her mother Rose (51) was disqualified from keeping dogs for 10 years.

The court was told how on September 6 last year, RSPCA inspector Kat Parfitt arrived at Red Brick Farm, Edgerly Drain Road, Fengate.

There, she found greyhounds Itchy, Ted, Tommy, George, Jack, Dixie and Jenny in the kennels, with just small scraps of paper for bedding.

They were also flea-ridden and up to six kilos underweight.

But it was the “overpowering stench” of urine and dog mess which first hit them.

Prosecuting, Robert Starr said: “They were in squalid conditions.

“Small amounts of shredded paper were being used for bedding, which was insufficient to provide comfort and there was no food or water available.

“A number of dogs had visible pressure sores and lesions all over their body and appeared emaciated.”

Six dogs were taken into the care of the RSPCA and Jack was seized by police, although the pair retained ownership of him.

The pair pleaded guilty to seven counts of animal cruelty, including causing unnecessary suffering and failing to ensure the dogs’ needs were met.

In mitigation, the court heard Rebecca had just had a baby and was thrown out of the family home by her father, who owned the dogs jointly with her.

He subsequently died.

She had been treating the animals with flea powder, but when it didn’t work, she admitted not going to seek advice from the vet.

Her mother, who didn’t own or have specialist knowledge of caring for the animals, tried to care for them after her husband’s death, but couldn’t cope.

Defending Rose Hagger, Jason Stevens said: “Her husband died and her daughter had a child. It was very difficult in that time and the dogs ended up in the state they were in.”

Addressing Rebecca, chairman of the bench Mary Morrell said: “We have seen some really appalling photos.

“You were well aware of how greyhounds should be kept. There was no access to water, which is fundamental to any animal.”

She told Rose and she was negligent rather than intentionally cruel.

Rebecca Hagger was given 200 hours unpaid community work.

Rose Hagger was handed a 12-month conditional discharge.

Both women were ordered to pay 250 costs each.

The court ordered Jack to be taken away by the RSPCA.

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Peterborough Today

This story is from 2008 and pre-dates her involvement with the EDL but she is still subject to the banning order.

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Abusive man fined

By
May 29, 2015
EDL, English Defence League

A MAN was abusive and aggressive to police who were called to a domestic disturbance.

Ronald Wood, 36, refused to leave his partner’s home in Church Street, Marley Hill, Gateshead, on Saturday night after she telephoned police about his behaviour.

Appearing before Gateshead magistrates, Wood, of Lonnen Drive, Swalwell, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to breaching the peace – his second similar offence in five months.

Magistrates told him his behaviour was “totally unacceptable” and bound him over to keep the peace in the sum of pounds 300 for nine months.

He told the bench: “I can’t get a job and am at my lowest ebb.”

The Free Library

Harrowing 999 call captures moments Billingham woman hid in terror from attacker

By
May 29, 2015
assault, EDL, English Defence League, Jailed
Cleveland Police picture of Scott Weedall, 40, jailed for 21 months for assault at Teesside Crown Court

Cleveland Police picture of Scott Weedall, 40, jailed for 21 months for assault at Teesside Crown Court

A harrowing 999 call captured the moments a terrified woman desperately begged for help while hiding from her attacker.

A hushed courtroom heard part of the 12-minute recording in which the petrified victim pleaded in panicked whispers: “Hurry up. Hurry up. Please please please.”

She sought refuge in a bathroom as her raging assailant Scott Weedall pounded on the door, armed with a baseball bat, bellowing: “Open the door.”

She was so scared she could not remember where she was or who had just been punching her.

A Teesside Crown Court judge said today it was one of the worst assault cases he had ever had to deal with.

Weedall, 40, repaid the woman’s kindness with violence after she took a taxi to his home on South Avenue, Billingham in the early hours of February 25.

She was concerned for him after he posted a Facebook message saying he was going to “end it”.

She saw him swigging vodka from the bottle after he had drunk 26 cans of lager and cider, the court was told.

After some “banter”, he exposed himself to her but she resisted his advances.

She got into bed with him but turned him down again when he tried to kiss and cuddle her.

He “exploded” and pushed her off the bed, trapping her between it and the wall, said prosecutor David Crook.

He hit her, delivering powerful, forceful blows to her head and face as she shouted: “Please stop.”

She did not remember how she got away, but locked herself in the bathroom and called 999.

She was so scared during the call it took her nine minutes to remember Weedall’s name.

She stalled Weedall as he banged on the door repeatedly shouting: “Open the door now. Open the door.”

Weedall bowed his head in the dock as he listened to the distressing call, apparently for the first time.

The call handler tried to get more information and reassure her while tracing her phone.

Weedall walked away from the bathroom door during the 999 call and had to be restrained when police arrived.

Officers had to convince the woman to open the door. She suffered a black eye, a cut lip, bruising and swelling to her face and head.

She later said in a statement: “This incident really shook me up.

“I’m so scared of what could have happened if Scott had got into the bathroom.

“It was like he had a split personality. He just flipped. He was so aggressive and is a big man. He’s almost twice the size of me.

“I’ve suffered violence in the past so this has brought it all back.

“I went to Simon’s in good faith to help him. I didn’t have to but I did. That’s what kind of person I am.”

Weedall admitted assault causing actual bodily harm. He had one old conviction for assault.

Peter Wishlade, defending, said: “He is utterly and totally ashamed of his totally reprehensible and undoubtedly dangerous behaviour.

“He’s not a persistent offender by any means. He’s not an assaulter of women in normal circumstances.”

He said Weedall still had little memory of the events.

He told how Weedall successfully tackled his alcohol problem and stopped drinking, but hit the bottle again when his wife had an affair and left with the children.

Weedall, who had character references, stayed sober since the assault because of his “shock, horror and amazement at what he had done”.

Judge Howard Crowson told Weedall: “A caring woman was trying to help you in a time of crisis.

“You attacked her having got her inside the house.

“You attacker her when she was vulnerable, when she was defenceless.

“You continued to try to attack her when she was locked in the bathroom, terrified. You were armed by this time with a baseball bat.”

He jailed Weedall for 21 months.

Gazette Live

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Meltham man in court after assaulting a police officer

By
May 29, 2015
EDL, English Defence League

A MAN has been slapped with a community order after attacking a police officer.

Derek Hemphill, 44, pushed Pc Richard Needham with such force that he banged his head on a chest of drawers during a struggle.

Kirklees magistrates ordered him to pay compensation to the officer, who was left with red marks to his head and a cut jaw.

The Huddersfield court was told that on December 15, the officer was called out to deal with an incident at the house on Forest Road, Almondbury.

He arrived to find a woman in the living room who was upset and comforting her son.

Pc Needham was directed upstairs. There he found two officers with Hemphill.

Alex Bosman, prosecuting, said Hemphill was aggressive, pacing and clenching his fists.

“Hemphill went at him, his hands flailing in the air. He took hold of him round his head and there was a further struggle.

“The officer tried to break free from the hold and he was pushed back with full force.

“He fell backwards and banged his head on a chest of drawers, with Hemphill landing on top of him.”

Magistrates were told that one of the officer’s colleagues used CS gas on Hemphill and he was restrained with their help.

The bench was told that Hemphill, of Highfield Crescent in Meltham, was found guilty of the attack following a trial last month.

Magistrates gave Hemphill a community order for two years, including a domestic violence programme.

They also ordered him to pay £100 compensation to Pc Needham and £500 prosecution costs.

Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Hemphill was jailed for Violent Disorder after and EDL demo. More info here

EDL members jailed for part in mass brawl at Sheffield pub

By
May 29, 2015
assault, EDL, English Defence League, Jailed

Two men associated with the English Defence League have been jailed following a ‘very serious and frightening’ mass brawl at a Sheffield city centre pub.

The fight at The Howard pub on Howard Street near Sheffield railway station involved members of the EDL and Unite Against Fascism and took place in front of frightened onlookers.

It happened at around 3pm on Saturday, May 10, last year, shortly after demonstrations by both groups in Rotherham had finished.

Mark Johnson, 34, and Derek Hemphill, 47, both from Huddersfield, were jailed for 12 months and one day at Sheffield Crown Court today after previously admitting charges of affray.

They were given six months each for affray, with time added to their jail terms for both separately breaching suspended sentences for past offences.

Johnson was caught on camera punching a member of the UAF a number of times, while Hemphill was seen on video delivering several kicks.

Fellow EDL member Adam Storey, 32, from Brushfield Grove in Frecheville, Sheffield, was given a 12 month community order and will have to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work after also admitting affray. He was also ordered to pay £300 compensation to the pub.

Storey was seen on CCTV delivering stamping kicks towards a man being held by others.

Hayley Ellis, 36, from Leeds, admitted a public order offence after being caught on CCTV kicking a member of the UAF in the back. She was given a 12 month community order, will have to carry out 40 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £200 compensation.

Glasses, snooker balls and chairs were all thrown during the wider disorder, with one member of the UAF having a glass smashed over his head.

Around £1,000 of damage was caused to the pub, with fighting spilling out on to the street outside the pub.

Witnesses said it had been a scene of ‘chaos’, with members of the public left fearing for their safety as the two groups clashed.

Sheffield Crown Court heard today that the fight had been sparked by members of the UAF coming into the pub with their faces covered while a small group of the EDL, including Johnson, had been inside drinking.

One member of the UAF, who has not been identified, went up to the group and asked them to leave the pub.

Johnson, who is mixed race, claimed when he started to confront the group, one called him a ‘race traitor’ – resulting in the violence starting.

Other members of the EDL who had been by the station ran up to the pub to get involved in the fighting, which spilled out on to the street.

Ian Goldsack, prosecuting, said tables had been overthrown, with chairs, stools, glasses and pool balls all thrown within the pub.

A window was broken and hundreds of pounds worth of damage caused to walls, ceilings and two chairs.

Mr Goldsack said one witness described seeing a member of the UAF having a glass smashed over his head before being dragged outside and assaulted.

The court heard one member of the UAF called Samuel Ross suffered a gash to his head during the fighting. Ross has previously been given a conditional discharge for attempting to pervert the course of justice in relation to the case after he sent text messages to other members of the UAF asking what he should tell the police about what happened.

Sentencing, Judge Robert Moore said it had been a ‘very serious and frightening disturbance’ in which all four defendants had played a part.

But he added that problems had been caused by the UAF provoking the small number of EDL members inside the pub, resulting in the fighting starting.

Investigating officer Police Constable Chris Wright from Rotherham said: “Today marks the culmination of a lengthy investigation into violent disorder and I am pleased with the result at court today.

“Even though the demonstration in Rotherham concluded peacefully, a group of individuals seemed intent on violent disorder.

“These four endangered the safety of members of the public who were enjoying a drink in a Sheffield pub that day. It is lucky that nobody was seriously injured as a result of their reckless actions.

“I hope this case serves as a warning to those individuals who seek to engage in violent disorder that we will not tolerate this behaviour.”

Sheffield Telegraph

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