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Racist drunk smashed windows with hammer at Leeds bar

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November 22, 2018
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A THUG hurled racist abuse at staff at a bar in Leeds before using a hammer to smash windows at the premises.

John Lock caused more than £1,000 worth of damage during the incident at the Dahlak entertainment centre on Stoney Rock Lane, Burmantofts.

Leeds Crown Court heard Lock, 28, went into the premises, formerly the Sportsman pub, on March 29 this year but staff refused to serve him as he had previously been barred.

Andrew Horton, prosecuting, said Lock then took out a bottle of whisky which he had brought with him and began drinking from it.

Lock became aggressive and refused to leave.

The staff member then fetched his boss who ejected Lock from the premises.

Lock shouted racial abuse at the men and said: “You will see me again.”

He returned carrying a hammer and used it to smash windows.

The prosecutor said “glass was flying everywhere” and some of it hit a member of staff in the face.

Children witnessed the incident as they made their way home from a nearby primary school

Police arrested Lock at his home later that day and he was in possession of two hammers and a half-empty bottle of whisky.

The court heard Lock breached a restraining order by contacting his partner on Facebook on May 30.

He also assaulted a police officer who went to his home on October 5 this year.

The court heard officers went to his home and saw Lock’s feet sticking out of a cupboard.

He was told to come out but ran into one of the officers as he tried to get away from them.

The officer fell down some stairs.

Lock, of Shakespeare Lawn, Burmantofts, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated criminal damage, racially aggravated threatening behaviour, breaching a restraining order and assaulting a police constable in the execution of his duty.

Ian Cook, mitigating, said Lock was sorry for the offences and was “disappointed” with himself for shouting racial abuse.

Mr Cook added: “He does not consider himself to be a racist man. He said racist things in the heat of the moment while clearly in drink.”

Lock was jailed for eight months.
Yorkshire Evening Post

Sleeping prisoner has boiling water poured in eye during racist attack

By
November 22, 2018
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John Reilly called Esmael Elmarghani a “Muslim b*****d” when he wasn’t even a Muslim

John Reilly, 41, of no fixed address, admitted racially aggravated assault causing actual bodily harm

John Reilly, 41, of no fixed address, admitted racially aggravated assault causing actual bodily harm

A prisoner poured boiling water in a sleeping inmate’s eye at HMP Altcourse during a sickening racist attack.

Convicted robber John Reilly demanded a turn on a pool table when Esmael Elmarghani was playing a game.

Liverpool Crown Court heard Elmarghani, 38, originally from Libya, didn’t want any trouble and said ‘that’s fine”.

To ensure there were no hard feelings, he offered Reilly a fist bump, which the 41-year-old reciprocated.

But when he went back to his cell and fell asleep, Reilly collected boiling water from a tea urn in a beaker.

The cowardly thug then crept up to defenceless Elmarghani and emptied its contents onto his left eye.

He woke in immense pain and Reilly warned: “Don’t go out you Muslim b*****d – if you go out I will kill you.”

Derek Jones, prosecuting, said Elmarghani – who is not actually Muslim – was terrified but alerted prison guards.

He had been in the jail since early last year and had “kept himself to himself” before the June 17, 2017 incident.

CCTV footage captured Reilly hiding the beaker, going in Elmarghani’s cell, onto the landing, then back in the cell to attack.

Mr Jones said the victim was taken to Whiston hospital, where he received treatment including ointment for three days.

Reilly, of no fixed address, appearing via video link from HMP Birmingham, admitted racially aggravated assault causing actual bodily harm.

Judge Gary Woodhall questioned why he was not charged with causing grievous bodily harm, which Mr Jones said surprised him.

Elmarghani revealed he no longer had any scarring on his face, but is receiving treatment for his left eye from ophthalmologists.

The victim said he had suffered depression since the incident and was nervous of people coming close to him.

He said he was afraid of people holding bottles of water and found going out in public and getting a new job difficult.

Because of the damage to his skin, he said he avoided sunlight or direct heat and no longer felt able to work as a chef.

Mr Jones said: “He describes having partial vision and his ongoing course of treatment involves having injections to his left eyeball.

“He is still unsure if the damage to the eye will be permanent or not.”

Reilly, who refused to be interviewed when police attended prison, has 42 previous convictions for 142 offences, dating back to 1992.

They include wounding, assaults, drugs, possession of weapons, affrays and a robbery he was jailed for five years over in 1998.

He was locked up for five years, four months with an extended two years, eight months on licence in September 2015 for robbery.

And just nine days after this attack, he assaulted a prison guard by punching him in the face and was convicted of battery.

Charles Lander, defending, said his client – who was due for release next March – was “embarrassed and ashamed”.

He said: “The defendant says after a game of pool his head was stewing, he was going to get a coffee and for some reason he just went into that room and acted as he did.”

Mr Lander said Reilly had anger management issues and was possibly schizophrenic but at the time was not receiving his medication.

He said he was embarrassed to now have a conviction for racism and never had any problems before with Muslims or ethnic minorities.

Judge Woodhall said Reilly “muscled in” on the game of pool and Elmarghani didn’t argue back, but then suffered a “very painful” injury.

He said: “It fact Mr Elmarghani is not a Muslim but you clearly believed he was and that was the motivation, at least in part, for this unprovoked attack.”

The judge handed Reilly two years and eight months in prison – consecutive to his existing sentence – meaning he will not be released before July 2020.
Liverpool Echo

Peterborough man jailed for ten years after brutal attack on ex-partner – which was only stopped by her teenage son

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October 26, 2018
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A man who smashed his former partner’s head against a coffee table and punched her more than 20 times has been locked up for ten years.

Jonathan Youthed, 31 of Hungarton Court, Peterborough, turned up at the woman’s house covered in blood and bragging about having assaulted another man on 25 March this year.

Earlier that day, Youthed had texted his ex-partner asking what she was doing later but it was obvious from his messages that he was drunk, Peterborough Crown Court heard.

Youthed then turned up at her house at about 10pm, but an argument began after he told her he had attacked another man.

The woman asked him to leave – but he refused, sitting on the sofa.

His victim tried to make him move – which is when he then launched the brutal attack, smashing her head against the table, an aquarium and other furniture.

The assault left the woman thinking she was going to be killed – and was only stopped when her teenage son kicked Youthed in the head.

Neighbours called 999 after hearing the victim screaming during the attack – and she was described as looking like something out of a horror film by neighbours when she left the house, because of the bruising she had suffered.

When he was arrested, Youthed made racially offensive comments to a police officer.

Today (Friday) he sat head bowed in the dock has he was jailed for ten years by Judge Sean Enright.

Judge Enright said it was a ‘sustained assault’ lasting several minutes, and said: “Her breath was being squeezed out of chest and she thought she was going to die.

“There was sustained bruising and some bleeding. Part of her hair had been torn out.”

The court also heard how he had also attacked a previous partner a number of years ago.

Youthed was charged with attempted murder and wounding with intent, and denied both charges. He was convicted of wounding with intent but cleared of the more serious charge at a trial earlier this year.

He was also convicted of making threats to kill, and causing racially aggravated alarm or distress.

In a statement read to the court, the victim said three months after the attack she had only left the house twice, and described herself as a ‘recluse’ because she felt she could not trust anyone anymore.

She said: “I truly felt he was going to kill me that night. I want him to be punished.”

Emma Rance, defending, said Youthed had shown remorse. She said: “He says if there was any way he could make amends, he would.

“He clearly needs some help, and hopes to get that in custody.”

DC Tania Weston said: “This was an horrific attack, which was only stopped because the victim’s son showed incredible bravery.

“I hope this prison sentence brings the victim some closure and helps her to move on with her life as best she can.

“I also want to thank her and all the other witnesses for having the strength to give evidence during the course of the trial.”

Youthed was given an eight year sentence for wounding with intent, two years for making threats to kill, to be served consecutively, and four months for causing racially aggravated alarm or distress, to be served concurrently.

Peterborough Today

Protestor injured officer while trying to break through police lines as rival demonstrations took place in Sunderland

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October 16, 2018
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Thomas Allen being led away by police during the demos in Sunderland

Thomas Allen being led away by police during the demos in Sunderland

A protester used his head as a weapon to charge at and injure a policeman battling to keep rivals apart during a mass demonstration in Sunderland city centre, a court heard.

Thomas Allen, 58, has been fined and ordered to pay the officer compensation by magistrates who scolded him for his actions.

They were told the unprovoked attack caused the PC to tumble to the ground, causing grazing to an arm.

Despite the assault, he was able to keep hold of Allen, of Hartside Road, Pennywell, Sunderland, who was arrested.

Even Allen’s defence solicitor admitted his client was still “hyped up” when later questioned at a police station.

Sentencing Allen, who is believed to be jobless, magistrates in South Tyneside criticised him for being part of trouble which led to three arrests on the day.

Democractic Football Lads Alliance protest through Sinderland City centre

Democractic Football Lads Alliance protest through Sinderland City centre

They said police had better things to do than wrestle with a man of his age during what should have been an entirely peaceful protest.

The court heard Allen was part of two marches organised by left and right wing groups which descended on the city on Saturday, September 15.

One was by Wearside-based Justice for the Women and Children Group, which was joined by the Democratic Football Lads Alliance (DFLA).

A counter demonstration was held by Sunderland Unites and Stand Up To Racism North East, which included members of trade unions, political parties and politicians.

Trouble flared close to Keel Square when members of the DFLA ignored march stewards and tried to break through the police lines which separated them from the other group.

Prosecutor Lesley Burgess said: “The officer was in uniform and part of an incident ongoing in Sunderland city centre.

“He was keeping the peace between left and right wing activists. As part of the cordon, he was directing members of the protest.

“He instructed Mr Allen to continue on his way and in the direction of where the demonstration was a heading.

“Mr Allen took no notice. He ducked his head and charged at the officer into his stomach.

“The officer says that he had no regard for him and forced him to fall backwards, and they were both forced to the floor together.

“He kept hold of him and got a graze to his elbow.”

Harry Burn, defending, described Allen, who admitted one charge of assault when he appeared in court, as “hyped up” even after his arrest.

He said his client had denied the offence when interviewed, but admitted he might have pushed the policeman.

Mr Burn said: “It was not nice for the police officer. But the injury is what it is, it’s a graze to an arm.

“It’s not too serious. He hasn’t needed medical support, but it was his job and he didn’t need that to happen.

“Mr Allen apologises to the officer and to the court.”

Magistrates fined Allen £80 – reduced from £120 due to his guilty plea – and ordered him to pay £100 compensation to the officer.

He must also pay a £30 victim surcharge and £85 court costs, with the entire amount being paid at £10 a week.

Sunderland Echo

Frankenstein mask man pleads guilty to Michael Cash spray paint attack

By
October 10, 2018
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A MAN who launched a spray paint attack on homeless man Michael Cash has today been sentenced to an 18 month community order.

Aaron Jones, of Balmoral Road, Middlesbrough, appeared at Teesside Magistrates Court today to face charges of common assault and criminal damage following the attack early last month.

The 33-year-old, who turned up for the hearing with his face hidden by a child’s Frankenstein mask, pleaded guilty to both charges.

Michael Cash, 32, was found dead in a cemetery three days after the assault which happened near Tesco Express in Normanby High Street, Middlesbrough.

Chairman of the bench Stephen Walker sentenced Jones to 18 month community order, 180 hours unpaid work and 20 hours of rehabilitation activity days. He was also ordered to pay £85 court cost, £85 victim surcharge and £100 compensation for the damage.

He said: “We have put this in the highest category of common assault, the reason being is that if the aggravating factors – it was a targeted attack with an element of premedication. He was a vulnerable victim and it was shared on social media.”

Cleveland Police said Mr Cash’s death was not treated as suspicious and was not connected with anything which happened on September 9 outside the store.

Police officers attended court today in case of a disturbance in the public gallery.
Northern Echo

Racist yob Paul Grainger kicked police officer

By
October 3, 2018
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A RACE-HATE thug has been ordered to address his drinking after a boozed-up attack on a policeman.

Handcuffed and languishing in the back of a police car, Paul Grainger used both feet to kick the officer in a violent outburst.

The drunken attack came just months after the 42-year-old was released from jail following a spate of race-hate crimes.

He was once caught on camera trying to kick in the door of a mosque in Newcastle’s West End as he brandished a Union flag and St George’s Cross.

With his pet bulldog in tow, he hurled abuse at the 400 Muslims inside, who were praying on the holiest night of the Islamic calendar.

Another time he was seen to follow a black man, telling him: “Go back to your own country. Newcastle is for whites,” before spitting at his victim.

Months later, on Blackett Street, Newcastle, he abused several African men leading to a four-month jail sentence in January last year.

Now the thug has turned his anger on the authorities.

Newcastle magistrates heard how officers were called to Summerhill House hostel on Westmorland Road, Elswick, Newcastle, where Grainger was found drunk and out of control late on March 29.

David Thompson, prosecuting, told how when police attempted to restrain him, he became “verbally abusive” before his behaviour descended into violence.

“He was arrested and placed in the rear of a police vehicle,” Mr Thompson said.

“The PC then sat in the driver’s seat and said that the defendant became violent. Using both feet, he kicked out at the officer, striking the officer in the left shoulder close to his head.”

Grainger, who resides at Summerhill House, has now been ordered to undergo treatment for alcoholism.

He was also told to pay £50 compensation to the injured officer and given a 12-month community order after pleading guilty to charges of assaulting a police officer and being drunk and disorderly.

Lewis Pearson, defending, said:

“He’s been consuming alcohol from a very young age, since the age of 14. He’s clearly alcohol dependant. He describes it as ‘binge drinking’.”

Chronicle

From 2010

Shoplifting thug who bit an Asda security guard’s finger flees from court

By
September 20, 2018
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Grant Ainley was due to be jailed for 20 weeks when he ran from Kirklees Magistrates’ Court

A man fled from court after being jailed for attacking a security guard who challenged him as he stole from a Huddersfield supermarket.

Grant Ainley bit the Asda worker’s little finger and threatened to smash a stolen bottle of champagne over his colleague’s head.

The 35-year-old was jailed for 20 weeks by Kirklees magistrates but ran from the court building before he could be taken into custody.

The incident happened at the Aspley branch of the supermarket on August 29 when Ainley was challenged as he tried to take two bottles of champagne.

Prosecutor Alex Bozman said that he told the security guard to get out of his way.

When the member of staff asked Ainley to put the alcohol down he threatened to smash a bottle over his head, magistrates were told.

The security guard managed to take one of the bottles off Ainley but he maintained a grip on the other one.

With help of his colleague Nicholas Foard the security guard managed to detain him, Mr Bozman said.

He told magistrates: “Ainley made threats that he would spit and bite at them.

“He scratched Mr Foard on his hand with his nails and bit him on the little finger, causing injury.”

Ainley, of Eastlands in Almondbury, was arrested but refused to comply with a police station drug test.

Mr Foard said in a victim personal statement read out to the court: “I come to work every day to do a job I enjoy.

“I do not come to work for people to steal from us or, even worse, get assaulted.

“My injuries may be scratches and bites but I do not know if he has any diseases.”

Ainley pleaded guilty to stealing from the store, assault and refusing to provide a sample for a Class A drug test.

He also admitted to the theft of meat and wine totalling £116 from Almondbury Co-op between June 7 and 17.

Jonathan Slawinski, mitigating, explained that Ainley had struggled with a drug problem since the age of 19.

He had managed to overcome this problem but still owed money to drug dealers.

Mr Slawinski explained: “When people stop using drugs they don’t always escape their past as debts catch up with them.

“The only way he knew how to get rid of the debt was sadly to do what he knows how to do and steals from the shops.”

He added that Ainley had been drinking at the time of the thefts but was “somewhat ashamed” of what he did to the security guard.

As magistrates pronounced their sentence, Ainley fled from courtroom number two before security staff could take him into custody.

A warrant was issued for his arrest. When he is released from his prison sentence he will have to pay Mr Foard £100 compensation.

Huddersfield Examiner

Racist thug abused takeaway worker and attacked girlfriend’s mum

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September 18, 2018
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A thug hurled foul racial abuse at a takeaway restaurant worker and assaulted his mother’s girlfriend.

Daniel Habberjam had 10 months added to the two-year prison sentence he is currently serving for a violent street attack on a former girlfriend in front of her three-year-old daughter.

Leeds Crown Court heard Habberjam was drunk when he entered a takeaway in Pontefract town centre on June 26 last year and accused a member of staff of being a “nonse”.

Habberjam shouted foul-mouthed racist abuse at the victim and accused him of having sex with an underage girl.

Habberjam also said: “Get out of our country, you do not belong here.”

The 30-year-old smashed a car window outside the premises as he left.

Robert Yates, prosecuting, said Habberjam attacked his partner’s mother days later at her home in Pontefract.

He threw her onto a sofa and grabbed her throat during the incident before being stopped by his partner.

Habberjam, of Cromwell Crescent, Pontefract, pleaded guilty to assault, criminal damage, racially aggravated threatening behaviour and breach of a criminal behaviour order.

The court heard Habberjam has previous convictions for violence.

He was given a two-year sentence earlier this year for punching his former partner in the street and throwing her to the floor. Christopher Morton, mitigating, said Habberjam had admitted the offences at an early stage.

Mr Morton said his client was now single, employed and expected his prison sentence to be increased. Sentencing Habberjam judge Christopher Batty said: “You have got an awful record for violence and abuse and damage.”

Wakefield Express

Man jailed after disorder during Sunderland demonstration

By
September 17, 2018
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A man has been jailed after violence flared during a march and counter demonstration in Sunderland.

Police made three arrests on Saturday afternoon following disorder in the city centre.

The Wearside-based Justice for the Women and Children Group, which campaigns against sexual violence and assault, organised a march through the city centre, which was joined by members of the Democratic Football Lads Alliance (DFLA).

March organiser Tasha Allan defended the group’s involvement in the protest: “The football lads are not racist, they have proved that,” she said.

“Just because somebody has said somebody is racist does not mean they are.”

The two groups marched down Fawcett Street before turning up up High Street West to make their way to the former Crowtree Leisure Centre site for a rally addressed by speakers including UKIP leader Gerard Batten.

Previous Justice for Women and Children Group protests have passed off without incident but trouble erupted on Saturday when the march reached Keel Square, where a counter demo organised by Sunderland Unites and Stand Up To Racism North East was taking place.

Some protesters defied the efforts of march stewards and tried to break through police lines which separated the two groups.

Two of the three men who were arrested were charged with assaulting a police officer.

Lee Graham Parkinson, 36, of no fixed abode, appeared before South Tyneside Magistrates Court this morning and pleaded guilty to the charge.

He was jailed for 12 weeks, with a further 12 weeks to run consecutively imposed for breach of a suspended sentence.

Fifty-eight-year-old Thomas Allen, of Hartside Road, Sunderland, who was also charged with assaulting a police officer, will appear before South Tyneside Magistrates on Monday, October 15.

A third man, aged 24, has been served with a fixed penalty notice for disorderly behaviour.

Sunderland Echo

Dad escapes jail term after battering son with a baseball bat and threatening him with a machete

By
September 14, 2018
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Mark Grogan had been drinking and admitted giving son a “good hiding”

A father has been given a suspended jail sentence after he assaulted his son with a baseball bat and threatened him with a machete.

Leeds Crown Court heard Mark Grogan had been out earlier drinking with his son Alex without any problem on January 15.

His son and a friend had returned with Grogan to his flat in Dewsbury where the drinking continued until the early hours. After the friend left both men fell asleep.

Bashir Ahmed, prosecuting, said the problems began when Grogan woke up and realised two treasured air rifles had gone and blamed his son or the son’s friend.

That led to an argument which culminated in Grogan pinning his son against a wall. He managed to get free and said he was leaving.

He had brought his dog with him and put it on the lead but as they were going Grogan partly shut the door trapping the dog’s paw. His son told him to leave the dog alone but Grogan then picked up the baseball bat and began to hit his son with it in the hall.

“At one point he hit him on the left leg causing him to fall over in pain,” said Mr Ahmed. He was also shouting: “I’m going to sort you out good and proper.”

His victim was struck again until he was crying and crawling on the floor towards the door only to be dragged back by Grogan.

He only managed to get away when his father went into the living room and as he got out saw Grogan was behind him waving a machete shouting: “When I get my hands on you I’m going to kill you.”

Alex Grogan, 20 at the time, managed to ring a relative for help and the police. When his father was arrested and interviewed he accepted giving his son “a good hiding, I just flipped.” He said if he had been sober it would never have happened.

Anastasis Tassou, representing Grogan, said his client had been drinking and he was upset about the air rifles but accepted he should have handled things differently. It was an isolated incident but the result had been a split in the family.

Grogan, 45 of Alexandra Crescent, Dewsbury, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and threatening with an offensive weapon. He was given a total of 21 months in prison suspended for two years with 175 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay £300 compensation to his son.

Judge Mushtaq Khokhar said it was only his good fortune his son had not suffered even more serious injuries. But if Grogan was jailed immediately and lost his flat and job as a result it could only cause more problems.
Huddersfield Examiner

From 2016