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Tommy Robinson ‘targeted by extremist groups’ as he admits to contempt at Canterbury Crown Court.

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May 26, 2017
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A right wing activist who intended to photograph defendants during has narrowly avoided prison.

Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, better known as Tommy Robinson, of Bedfordshire, admitted contempt of court on May 8 and was given a three-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months by Judge Heather Norton.

Because of Robinson’s actions both the jury and defendants had to be hustled out of the building away from the normal front door.

Security staff told Robinson not to film within the precincts of the court and warned him he would be arrested.

‘He will be put in jeopardy if he goes to prison’

Robinson claimed he had only been working for an internet TV company for six weeks and hadn’t been taught media law .

He was looking to photograph or confront the defendants who included a juvenile which is against the Contempt of Court Act of 1925 – which makes it illegal to photograph witnesses, defendants or jurors within the court precincts.

Richard Kovaleski, defending, said Robinson had been given warnings that Al Shebab a Muslim extremist group is out to get him.

He said: “He is a marked man. This is not fanciful. He will be put in jeopardy if he goes to prison. Today could be a life changing event.”

‘I take a dim view of your actions. If you commit further offences this sentence will be activated’

Judge Norton said although Robinson only filmed himself in the court building his intention was clear.

She said: “Your intention beyond any doubt was to film the defendants but you were not able to do so.”

There are notices all over the court building prohibiting filming.

Judge Norton said: “This was a deliberate action on your part.

“Your intention was to seek out the defendants. It is abundantly clear you were on a mission to film the defendants.This is not about free speech or freedom of the press, legitimate journalism or political correctness.

“This is about justice. It is about being innocent until proven guilty.

“I find clear evidence of contempt. I take a dim view of your actions. If you commit further offences this sentence will be activated.”

She said any further contempt and Robinson would be sent to jail for three months on top of any further sentences.

Kent Live

Man jailed for pregnant woman attack at Bletchley Co-op

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May 22, 2017
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David Gallacher was described by the judge as a "shabby racist" and a "thug"

David Gallacher was described by the judge as a “shabby racist” and a “thug”

A “shabby racist” who repeatedly kicked a pregnant Muslim woman, resulting in her losing her unborn baby, has been jailed for almost four years.

David Gallacher, 37, of no fixed address, attacked Samsam Haji-Ali, 34, and her husband outside a Co-op in Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, in August.

He admitted actual bodily harm, assault by beating and two counts of racially or religiously aggravated assault.

The judge called him a “thug and a racist to boot.”

Aylesbury Crown Court heard Somali Ms Haji-Ali was racially abused by Gallacher in the Water Eaton Road shop on 4 August.

He swore at her and said: “You come here with your clown outfit on…”

As her husband Abdullah Sulamain, 40, attempted to calm him down in the car park outside, Gallacher hit him on the head with a bottle of wine and a bag of ice.

He then kicked Ms Haji-Ali in the stomach.

Judge Francis Sheridan said: “She told him she was pregnant and he continued to kick her again, after he was told she was pregnant.

“She is left rolling around on the ground in agony and later found there is bleeding, before she lost the baby.”

Ms Haji-Ali miscarried on 24 August

Judge Sheridan said her pregnancy had been “absolutely fine” before the attack, and in his view “the loss of that baby was a direct result of a kick to the stomach of a pregnant woman”.

He told Gallacher: “There was a racial element to this attack.

“The defendant is a shabby racist on the language that he used towards this lady.

“It is time you learnt that your vile conduct and abhorrent views are a thing of the past.”

Gallacher admitted two counts of racially aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm and three counts of assaulting a police officer during his arrest in September last year.

He was jailed for three years and seven months for the race attacks and four months for the officer assault, to run consecutively.

BBC News

Whitchurch man, 24, punched his partner as she gave birth in hospital.

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May 10, 2017
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A new father from Whitchurch punched his partner while she was in a hospital delivery room giving birth to their child, a court heard.

The following day she was kicked and punched by 24-year-old Myles Davies outside her home which left her with a broken wrist.

The victim also suffered bruising to her legs and body in the assault less than 24 hours after giving birth. That morning, Davies had complained the victim rocking the child’s cradle kept him awake.

The police and social services had already been alerted when the victim was punched on the shoulder at Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital in the delivery suite.

At Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday Judge Peter Barrie said Davies had been involved in ‘aggressive and nasty’ behaviour.

“Anyone who hears about this behaviour towards your partner and mother of your child would realise you are in serious need of help,” he said.

He told Davies that he was a high risk to the public and to partners, present and future and to children.

Judge Barrie said it was to the victim’s credit that she said in her statements that, despite being upset, she acknowledged that Davies had mental health issues and had not been getting the support he needed.

Davies was given a two-year community order which involves intense relationship and rehabilitation programmes.

The court heard Davies had been on remand for over six months which was equal to getting a 15-month prison sentence.

Judge Barrie said it was in the public interest to change the defendant’s attitude and prison was not the harsh punishment for him that it was for others.

An indefinite restraining order was also imposed on Davies for him to have no contact with the victim and any access to his young child was to be through the official channels.

Davies, of Alkington Road, Whitchurch, who appeared in court via a video link from prison, had pleaded guilty to charges of common assault and assault causing actual bodily harm on November 14 and 15 last year.

The court heard Davies had previously been jailed for assault when he was a member of the English Defence League, threatening behaviour at an EDL demonstration and a football banning order for being on Shrewsbury Town’s pitch while in possession of a firework.

Mr Kevin Jones, prosecuting, said that Davies was involved in ‘controlling’ behaviour with the victim at her home and had behaved strangely at the hospital delivery room causing staff to alert social services and police.

He said that Davies had struck her on the shoulder three or four times while she was in labour.

The next day Davies had issues with the victim nursing the baby, having a light on and having to feed the child and complained her rocking the child’s cradle kept him awake.

Mr Jones said Davies left at 2am but returned a few hours later and was unhappy that the victim had the baby on the bed with her and had complained that doors in the house were left open.

When Davies was later leaving he had pushed her back into the flat but as she tried to get to a relative’s car outside she fell and was kicked and punched on the body and legs by the defendant.

Mr Stephen Scully, for Davies, said that psychological reports indicated his client had poor self esteem, unpredictable emotions and insecurity and lost his temper when under stress and when he felt threatened.

He said Davies thrived in the secure and structured prison regime and was working to dealing with his mental health issues and the reasons for his offending.

Shropshire Star

Charlton fan jailed and banned from football games after throwing a punch at Crystal Palace’s eagle mascot

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April 29, 2017
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Daniel Boylett threw a punch at Crystal Palace's eagle mascot

Daniel Boylett threw a punch at Crystal Palace’s eagle mascot

A Charlton Athletic fan has been jailed for throwing a punch at Crystal Palace FC’s eagle mascot during a football match.

Daniel Boylett, 36, was today locked up for a total of 21 months for violent disorder and the attack on bald eagle Kayla during an away game at Selhurst Park in September 2015.

He was also banned from going to any football matches for six years.

Boylett, from Eltham in south east London, launched his attack on the 25-year-old bird of prey during a third-round cup tie which had descended into violence.

The eagle handler was walking Kayla around the pitch on his forearm when Boylett swung the punch.

Last month a jury found Boylett guilty of violent disorder and attempted criminal damage for the attack on Kayla after a trial lasting two weeks.

On Friday at Croydon Crown Court he was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment for violent disorder and three months in prison for attempted damage on the eagle. Both sentences will run concurrently.

Boylett’s lawyer claimed he had acted in self-defence as he did not expect to see a bird flying towards him.

The eagle sanctuary in Dartford where Kayla lives today said they were pleased Boylett had been jailed and his sentence shows attacks on animals are being taken seriously.

Samantha Ames, one of the directors at Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation, told the Standard: “We are feeling very pleased that it’s been taken seriously and we are glad it sets a bit of a precedent to people.

“The way you treat animals is taken seriously.

“We were shocked and quite sad when it happened. It was quite a sad thing to hear about because she’s an innocent animal and she’s so beautiful and has such an amazing story.

“For someone to try and punch her we were shocked and sad.”

Ms Ames said Kayla was fine following the attack but since then the club and handlers have changed the way she interacts at the football ground.

“Now they don’t really take her close to the stands,” she said. “Which is unfortunate for the other people. ”

Prosecutor Daniel Higgins previously told the court: “As he [Chris Belsey, eagle handler] passed the stand he noticed three or four fans were shouting abuse and one of these three or four lent over the barrier and threw a punch directed at Kayla.

“Mr Belsey is unsure if the punch directed at the eagle had landed.”

Kayla joined Crystal Palace, whose nickname is the Eagles, as a mascot in 2010. Female bald eagles typically have a wingspan of around seven feet and live for an average of 20 to 30 years.
Evening Standard

Right-wing radio host Tim Burton jailed for ‘vile Islamophobic’ trolling of anti-racism campaigner

By
April 28, 2017
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‘It was pre-meditated, it was determined, it was deeply unpleasant, and it was part of a campaign by you and your associates to tar all Muslims as Islamists’

Tim Burton outside Southwark Crown Court before the start of his trial for racially aggravated harassment Rex

Tim Burton outside Southwark Crown Court before the start of his trial for racially aggravated harassment Rex

A right-wing radio host who trolled an anti-hate crime campaigner with “Islamophobic” tweets and emails has been jailed for 12 weeks.

Timothy Burton, 64, branded Islam a “backwards, misogynistic, seventh-century” ideology in a series of emails to Tell Mama founder Fiyaz Mughal OBE between 4 April and 26 April 2016.

Burton also sent Mr Mughal links to far-right blogs containing “vile slurs” against Muslims including a petition called “renounce, reform, or get the hell out of my country”.

The radio presenter for the anti-immigration group Liberty GB was convicted of one count of religiously aggravated harassment in March following a week-long trial at Southwark Crown Court.

Burton, who says he has resigned from the group following his conviction, had denied the charge and claimed he was exercising his right to free speech.

He said he insulted Mr Mughal after reading articles suggesting Tell Mama had exaggerated figures about anti-Muslim incidents.

Mr Mughal said in a statement: “The defendant’s actions have led to endless nights of anxiety and fear and a sense of being targeted to my core.”

Judge Alex Gordon said Burton had been on a campaign to tar all Muslims as violent extremists as he jailed him for 12 weeks at Inner London Crown Court on Friday.

He said: “The defendant was found guilty by jury following a trial in March of religiously aggravated harassment.

“He sent a series of grossly offensive emails to Tell Mama with the obvious intention that they would be, as they were, received by Mr Mughal.

“Not only were these emails offensive, they provided links to deeply offensive material involving a petition called ‘renounce, reform, of get the hell out of my country’.

“He also linked to articles with vile slurs to Mr Mughal.

“He was broadcasting the harassment to the world.”

The judge said the emails “continued after the defendant was asked to stop sending them, and after it was threatened that he would be reported to the police”.

He continued: “It was obvious that these emails were designed, carefully designed to harass Mr Mughal by causing him distress.

“Your extreme antipathy towards Muslims is what led you to harass Mr Mughal.

“You are seemingly incapable of distinguishing between Muslims and violent Islamists. Your offending behaviour was obviously motivated by a religious hostility and aggravated the harassment.

“You were at the time, [though you have] apparently now resigned, a member of a group Liberty GB which promotes antipathy based on religious adherence.

“It was pre-meditated, it was determined, it was deeply unpleasant, and it was part of a campaign by you and your associates to tar all Muslims as Islamists.”

Judge Gordon accepted that Burton had “expressed some limited remorse”.

Burton was previously cleared of racially aggravated harassment in 2014 after calling Mr Mughal a “mendacious grievance-mongering taqqiya artist” and a “Muslim scumbag” on Twitter.

He told him Liberty GB members “raised a glass in your honour, and toasted you with a bacon sandwich” in an email referencing the second anniversary of his acquittal on 26 April 2016.

Jurors were told the obscure theological term “taqqiya” provides persecuted Shia Muslims with an option to deny their faith “if their life is at stake”.

Mr Mughal said far-right extremists use the term to “blacken all Muslims”.

He told the trial: “Within far-right circles they say don’t trust Muslims because ‘taqqiya’ means they will lie – one to spread Islam, two to take over the state by insidious means, and three to promote Sharia.”

Judge Gordon jailed Burton for 12 weeks and imposed a restraining order barring him from contacting Fiyaz Mughal, Faith Matters, Tell Mama, or any employee of those groups.

He added: “A breach of that order is quite rightly taken by the courts as an extremely important matter and may well result in a custodial sentence.”

The Independent

This violent demonstrator used a wooden baton as a weapon during the Dover protests.

By
April 27, 2017
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Michael Green has been jailed for his part in the Dover protests in January 2016

Michael Green has been jailed for his part in the Dover protests in January 2016

A violent demonstrator who used a makeshift baton to fight people during last year’s Dover protests has been jailed.

Michael Green, 43, formerly of Corbett Street in Treorchy, South Wales, travelled to the town to take part in a pre-planned political demonstration on January 30 as hundreds of people representing the far-right and anti-fascist movement squared off.

Trouble broke out between the two sets of protestors with opposing views, which led to violent clashes and fighting in the streets.

Green was filmed throwing objects in Effingham Street and was also caught swinging an improvised wooden baton at people.

Kent Police detectives reviewed hundreds of hours of footage captured on the day and shared images of those involved with other forces across the UK.

The 43-year-old was identified and arrested at his home address in Wales on Friday, June 24, 2016.

Green later pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was sentenced to nine-and-a-half months in prison at Canterbury Crown Court last Wednesday (April 19).

Detective Inspector Bill Thornton of Kent Police said: “This is yet another positive result for the people of Dover who were shocked and appalled by the actions of people like Michael Green.

“He was a guest to the town but acted in such a manner that residents would probably prefer it if he did not come back. He demonstrated his inability to control his temper and must now serve several months behind bars as a result.”

Kent Live

Charlton fan found guilty of trying to punch Crystal Palace’s eagle mascot

By
March 31, 2017
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• Daniel Boylett attacked bird of prey during Palace’s win over Charlton in 2015
• Kayla has been Palace’s mascot since 2010 and ‘seemed unhurt’ by incident

Kayla was attacked by Charlton Athletic fan Daniel Boylett during their visit to Selhurt Park for a Capital One Cup tie in September 2015. Photograph: Scott Heavey/Getty Images

Kayla was attacked by Charlton Athletic fan Daniel Boylett during their visit to Selhurt Park for a Capital One Cup tie in September 2015. Photograph: Scott Heavey/Getty Images

A Charlton Athletic supporter has been found guilty of trying to punch Crystal Palace’s American bald eagle mascot at a cup tie marred by crowd trouble.

A jury at Croydon crown court found Daniel Boylett, 36, of Eltham, south east London, guilty of attempted damage in the attack on Kayla, a 25-year-old bird of prey who Palace adopted as their mascot in 2010.

The jury took four hours and 22 minutes to reach all its verdicts, which stem from the ugly scenes which marred the Capital One Cup third-round tie at Selhurst Park on 23 September 2015. Charlton lost the match 4-1.

Boylett was also found guilty of violent disorder. He has been in the dock during the two-week trial alongside Colin Kitto, 49, of Eltham, Andy McConville, 48, of Rochester, Kent, Billy Cowcher, 32, of Greenwich, south east London, and Sam Donegan, 25, of Welling, Bexley, in south London, who had been charged with football violence.

Kitto was found guilty of violent disorder. Donegan was cleared of violent disorder but found guilty of an alternative charge of affray.

Kayla’s handler Chris Belsey had been walking her around the Selhurst Park pitch on his forearm when a punch was thrown from the crowd. Prosecutor Daniel Higgins previously told the court: “As he passed the stand he noticed three or four fans were shouting abuse and one of these three or four lent over the barrier and threw a punch directed at Kayla. Mr Belsey is unsure if the punch directed at the eagle had landed.”

Mr Higgins said Kayla “seemed unhurt”, but added “due to her delicate bone structure if she had been hit with force, her bones could easily break”.

Mr Higgins said there “was disorder at the match before, during and after” the game. Before the kick-off police had also spotted a “distinct group” of about five or six fans who had met at a pub in Thornton Heath, south London, before the match, according to Mr Higgins.

The first scuffles broke out as police escorted the Charlton supporters to the ground. Officers stood shoulder to shoulder as the crowd tried to push and break the police cordon to get to the rival fans. One officer suffered a cut lip after being hit by what he thought was a bottle.

After the match, Donegan ran at a police cordon wielding a large yellow cone. He ignored police shouts to stop and was subdued with a baton strike.

During his police interview, he said: “I was just annoyed, obviously. We just got battered. I just picked it up and let my anger out.”

McConville was found not guilty of violent disorder. The jury were directed to acquit Cowcher, Boylett, Kitto and McConville on a count of violent disorder due to insufficient evidence earlier this week. Not guilty verdicts were recorded.

The defendants were released on bail to be sentenced on 28 April.
The Guardian

Fake NHS worker found guilty of drugging and sexually assaulting vulnerable Sheffield women

By
March 28, 2017
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A fake NHS worker who gained the trust of vulnerable Sheffield woman and plied them with alcohol and drugs before sexually assaulting them, has been jailed.

Dean Chambers, aged 49, of Green Oak Road, Totley, was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault, one count of perverting the course of justice in relation to two victims which took place in his home.

Jailing Chambers for five years and three months, Judge Sarah Wright said: “You have been convicted by the jury of sexual assaults after you exploited these vulnerable women with alcohol and drugs, although I accept they took these willingly.

“You also tried to pervert the course of justice sending letters from your prison cell which is a very serious offence.”

Chambers, who lingered before being led away to the cells, showed no emotion as the sentence was passed.

The Sheffield Crown Court previously heard Chambers would visit places like soup kitchens and homeless shelters before gaining the women’s trust and inviting back to his Totley home.

Mr Ian Goldsack, prosecuting, previously told the court the complainants were ‘extremely vulnerable adults’ and ‘females who had all sorts of different difficulties or vulnerabilities’.

“He would present himself as a Good Samaritan; he would gain their trust at least in part through wearing an NHS badge and presenting himself as somebody who would help people with problems or vulnerabilities,” Mr Goldsack said.

“He would invite them back to his home, once there they would be provided with the sort of things they thought they wanted – drugs, alcohol, tablets he seemed to have a ready stock of.”

Chambers also wrote letters from his prison cell to a vulnerable woman, who was not a complainant, asking her to record the women ‘admitting they had lied about the allegations’.

The jury, who took over 13 hours to come to their verdicts, cleared Chambers of six further counts of sexual assault against two further complainants.

He already pleaded guilty to one count of supplying class C drugs during the trial.

Sheffield Star

Dover protester Bretton Vaughan jailed for three-and-a-half years

By
March 25, 2017
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One of the longest prison terms dealt to a demonstrator at the Dover protests was served today.

Bretton Vaughan, 45, of Belmont Road in Preston, Lancashire, travelled to Kent to take part in a pre-planned march through the town on Saturday, January 30, 2016.

Fighting broke out when those present were met by other visitors who were holding a counter-protest at the same time.

Bretton Vaughan

Bretton Vaughan

Vaughan was witnessed throwing objects on three occasions by offers reviewing evidential footage captured during the disturbances.

He was arrested at his home address on Thursday, July 7, and subsequently charged with violent disorder.

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three-and-a-half years imprisonment at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday.

Police believe this is the third longest term from a January 2016 Dover rioter.

Investigating officer Detective Constable, Kirsty Bricknell, said: “Bretton Vaughan and others like him had no business in coming to Dover and contributing to the widespread trouble that took place that day.

“He has received a significant custodial sentence for his actions, which reflects the seriousness of the crimes he committed and the effect they had on the people of the town.”

Kent Online

Man shared Facebook image that said ‘keep calm and burn a mosque’

By
March 15, 2017
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Simon Neve shared offensive images and posted the comments between July 26 and 28 last year, Cambridge Magistrates’ Court was told

A Cambridge man shared “nasty” and “offensive” images on Facebook, including one that said ‘keep calm and burn a mosque’, a court heard.

Simon Neve, of Trevone Place in Cambridge, commented on social media last year saying it would be “nice” if mosques were on fire in the UK.

The 46-year-old shared the images and posted the comments between July 26 and 28 last year, Cambridge Magistrates’ Court was told.

Neve previously pleaded guilty to five charges of sending an offensive or menacing message via a public communication network.

Magistrates adjourned the case for sentence at the same court until 10am on Tuesday, April 4.

Neve was released on unconditional bail.

Emma Howson, prosecuting, said: “The defendant posted pictures and comments on an open Facebook page which are considered to be offensive towards asylum seekers and muslims.

“In a post on July 26, the defendant wrote ‘I reckon a few mosques will be on fire tonight in France, it would be nice to see it in the UK too’.

“Another comment made by the defendant read ‘I think I’m going to kick off in France and mosques are going to be targeted, they are done’.

“In another post he wrote ‘It’s the only way the French are going to get any comeback’.”

Miss Howson said there were also pictures shared on Neve’s Facebook page of an offensive nature.

She told magistrates: “There were also pictures on his Facebook that said ‘keep calm and burn a mosque’.

“This is clearly a hate crime offence. The defendant has a number of previous offences recorded against him. His last racially aggravated offence was in April 2015.”

Neve has 24 previous convictions for 51 offences, some of which were of a similar nature, the court was told.

Monica Lentin, mitigating, said: “There is a basis of plea here; my client does not admit to creating any of the images in this offence but he does admit that he shared them.

“He does accept responsibility for creating and sending messages that we have read but that is the only thing he accepts.

He accepts that people would find these posts hurtful. It is accepted that these are nasty images and this is serious.”

Mrs Lentin said magistrates may feel the offence crosses the custody threshold, but that it would be proper to adjourn the case for reports.

She added: “My client has a long history of mental health problems. He also suffers from personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“He is also on no end of prescribed opiate medication.”

Cambridge News