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Nazi jailed for hate campaign involving Taylor Swift and Sadiq Khan

By
December 14, 2019
Uncategorized

White supremacist Michael O’Neill, aged 61, made jibes at everyone from Taylor Swift to Sadiq Khan

Michael O'Neill made a racist claim about singer Taylor Swift and a black child

Michael O’Neill made a racist claim about singer Taylor Swift and a black child

A Nazi has been jailed for a campaign of race hate on social media which included jibes at everyone from London mayor Sadiq Khan to pop superstar Taylor Swift.

White supremacist Michael O’Neill, aged 61, was arrested after an investigation by counter-terrorism police watching far-right groups.

He spent three years using Facebook and Twitter to spread racial abuse.

O’Neill was continually blocked by the social media giants for posting offensive material, Plymouth Crown Court heard.

But he created accounts under slightly different names so he could go on spouting filth.

He posted a picture of Tyler Swift with her arm around a black child and claimed she could catch Down’s Syndrome.

Jailing him for two years for his racist messages, Judge James Townsend said that he needed to pass a sentence to deter others.

He told the defendant the posts went on for a prolonged period of nearly three years and were available for all to see.

Police said after the case that the sentence should deter others from posting extreme views.

O’Neill, of Redhill Close, Ernesettle, pleaded not guilty to eight counts of distributing written material on social media likely to stir up racial hatred.

But he was found guilty after a four-day trial last month.

The jury saw more than 100 bizarre and offensive Facebook posts and tweets from between 2015 and 2018.

Simon Burns, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said among the more worrying posts was a suggestion that black Labour front bencher Diane Abbott “needed dispatching”.

O’Neill, with links to the National Front and Combat 18, also said Mr Khan should ‘f*** off and die’.

The barrister also reminded the judge that O’Neill said Pakistani Muslims should be “wiped out”.

O’Neill told a court that a tattoo of the number 1488 – linked to Hitler – was nothing to do with Nazis and was just a reminder of his PIN.

O’Neill said that he had the ink done years ago because he kept forgetting the number.

He also briefly sang the anthem “Flower of Scotland” from the witness stand during his trial.

Rupert Taylor, for O’Neill, said his client had “learnt his lesson”.

He added that the defendant no longer posted messages on social media or associated with far-right racists.

Mr Taylor said O’Neill drank heavily, was socially isolated and in poor health.

He added: “He has had the good sense to mend his ways. He is anxious to accept assistance and that is something that could be done in the community.

“It is really a plea for mercy for him to live quietly with restrictions.”

Mr Taylor said that his comments did not provoke actual violence or drive anyone to radical views.

Det Sgt Steve Foale from Counter Terrorism Police South West said after the case that the unit started examining O’Neill’s online activity early in 2018.

He added that when police searched his home in July that year, they found books, flags and music linked to the far-right.

DS Foale said: “His mindset combined with his aspiration for others to commit violence towards vulnerable members of our communities cannot be underestimated and could not go unprosecuted.

“O’Neill had at least eight Twitter and Facebook accounts attributed to him from which he continually posted a large amount of offensive extreme far-right material.

Chief Inspector Rob Mooney added: “The sentencing today of Michael O’Neill will send a positive message to the people of Plymouth that Devon and Cornwall Police and our partners will not accept any extremist ideology.

“Residents in our community must be protected from anyone that displays these abhorrent and bigoted behaviours.

“This court result shows that we take reports of this nature very seriously and urge our communities to carry on reporting such activity to police.

“If you have any information about suspicious activity or behaviour please contact Counter Terrorism Police in confidence. You can report a potential terrorist threat via our secure online form at gov.uk/ACT or call us on 0800 789 321.”

Plymouth Herald

Viewers slam ‘pathetic’ sentence given to vile racist who abused police officer on Call the Cops

By
September 3, 2019
Uncategorized

Michael Westwood was filmed hurling abhorrent abuse at police officer Sam.

The sentence given to a racist who hurled vile abuse at a black police officer has been branded “pathetic” after the shocking incident was shown on last night’s episode of Call the Cops.

Viewers were given a glimpse of the abuse suffered by police officers working on the front line in the third episode of the Channel 4 show.

Officers Sam and Josh were filmed responding to a hostile incident involving a couple at an address in Plymouth.

Viewers watched in horror as Michael Westwood made repetitive references to the colour of Sam’s skin, along with references to an Islamaphobic organisation during a prolonged verbal attack.

Westwood was arrested for a racially aggravated public order offence.

The footage left viewers reeling in anger.

Following the show, Devon and Cornwall Police revealed the sentence handed to Westwood, who failed to turn up to his sentencing hearing.

In a tweet the force said: “For those who watched episode three of #CallTheCops, Michael Westwood was charged and pled guilty to a racially aggravated public order offence.

“He didn’t appear at the hearing which took place at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court in August,

“In his absence Westwood was fined £350 plus costs of £85 to go to the CPS and a surcharge of £35.

“Victim compensation was set at £50.

“Unacceptable

Viewers were quick to hit out at the sentence, branding it “pathetic”, “disgraceful” and “shameful”.

One said: “And this is why criminals don’t give a toss, no consequences. That guy made me, just a normal white guy, feel ashamed of my so called fellow race.”

Another added: “Is that it?! So he probably doesn’t have a job and WE will end up paying it. Not a deterrent at all that is it?! Sad times.”

Many felt the offence justified a prison sentence.

One person tweeted: “That is a shameful. That guy deserved jail time.”

While a second viewer wrote: “Should have been jailed for at least 5 yrs…no wonder crime is rife….no punishment!”

There was also widespread support and praise for Sam, who revealed the force had offered to take him off the front line in order to protect him for abuse.

Sam’s experience

Speaking about the racial abuse he has received throughout his career, Sam said: “In all seriousness, I have lost count of the amount of times I’ve been racially abused.

“Peoples attitude towards race had on the whole got better, with the exception of three years ago when the political world started to change.”

Sam went on to admit that the force gave him the option of leaving the front line, in an attempt to stop the racial abuse.

“In 2016 the force legal team, their concern was my welfare,” he said.

“They wanted to know whether I wanted to remain as a response office or whether I wanted to be removed from the front line to save myself being racially abused.

“My response to that was I joined the police to be a response officer and work on the front line. If someone racially abuses me because of the colour of my skin, I’m not the one who has the problem, they’re the ones that have the problem.

“They’re the ones that are going to have to learn that black police officers, male or female reflect the society we live in and we make society safe.

“That was the message I wanted our senior management to be aware of.”

Plymouth Herald

Half-naked racist alcoholic attacked policemen after television appearance

By
December 14, 2018
Uncategorized

Drunken Leah Neville, aged 44, called officers after seeing herself on the local news

Racist alcoholic Leah Neville spat and kicked a police officer

Racist alcoholic Leah Neville spat and kicked a police officer

A half-naked racist alcoholic attacked a policeman after seeing herself on the television news, a court heard.

Drunken Leah Neville, aged 44, called officers herself after seeing footage of her abusive behaviour in a takeaway on BBC Spotlight.

Police attended after she threatened to take an overdose but she ended up lashing out at officers, Plymouth Crown Court heard.

Neville had taken off her trousers because she had spilt water over them from a cat’s bowl.

She was jailed for 14 months for a string of offences.

Judge Paul Darlow said: “You unleashed a torrent of foul-mouthed abuse at a businessman in a takeaway simply trying to serve the public.

“Taken together (these offences) demonstrate a clear pattern of alcohol and prescription drug-fuelled violent behaviour. You have come to the end of the road.”

Neville, of Cecil Street, Stonehouse, admitted assaulting a police officer in the execution of his duty on October 14.

She admitted racially-aggravated threatening behaviour at the Stoke Grill on April 16.

The offences put her in breach of a 10-month suspended prison sentence imposed last year for another racially-aggravated threatening behaviour offence.

Hollie Gilbery, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said Neville demanded to be served in the takeaway. But she was told she was banned because of her previous bad behaviour.

She then started to abuse worker Warven Saadi, saying: “I will kill you, I will slice open your throat.”

The court heard she also told him to “go back to your own country”

Miss Gilbery said that Neville twice threw menus at Mr Saadi. He later told police he felt “embarrassed and upset”.

She added that Neville called police on October 14, apparently having seen the takeaway incident on the regional television news.

Miss Gilberry said officers attended but she became violent, spitting and kicking out at one male constable. She also ripped an epaulette from his shoulder.

The barrister said that during the incident she knocked the water from a cat’s bowl over her legs – and insisted on taking off her trousers.

Miss Gilberry said that officers were forced to call a female colleague because of her state of undress.

Nick Lewin, for Neville, said: “She is obviously a very pathetic individual. She is a very confused woman.”

He pointed to a probation report which helped explain her behaviour – factors which were not aired in court.

Mr Lewin said: “It clearly provides an explanation as to why she has an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. She is a classic alcoholic.

“She cannot it seems make that break. She is gradually falling apart physically and mentally.”

He added she had serious and long-term mental health dificulties.

The barrister said the was on a range of different medications.

Mr Lewin said there had been some “limited success” on her community order.

He added: “She is not a bad woman, she really is not a bad woman”.

Mr Lewin asked for a month’s remand in custody to provide her with an “immediate detoxification”. She would then be sentenced in January.

Plymouth Herald

Robbers who raided Plymouth shop with a machete are jailed.

By
April 22, 2018
Uncategorized

Serial criminals Steven Danvers, aged 30, and 28-year-old Benjamin Rogers jailed for four and a half years

Two thugs have been jailed for robbing a city shop with a machete.

Serial offenders Steven Danvers, aged 30, and 28-year-old Benjamin Rogers raided the convenience store to grab £280.

But Rogers at least had little chance of getting away with it as he was a regular customer, Plymouth Crown Court heard.

Jailing both men for four and a half years, Judge Peter Johnson told the pair: “Both of you have very poor records. You hatched a plan that a robbery would take place at this convenience store.

“You Rogers carried out reconnaissance and Danvers you used a knife, a very threatening machete and you got away with a reasonable sum of money.”

He ruled that Danvers and Rogers were dangerous, meaning they will not be released at the usual half-way point of their sentence.

They will only be set free after serving two-thirds of the term, at three years, and then only if the parole board deems they no longer pose a public danger.

Both will have two-year extended licence periods upon their release.

Danvers and Rogers, both of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to robbery at the West Hoe Convenience Store on January 4.

Danvers also admitted having a bladed article.

The court heard that the two men entered the store just after 8pm with Danvers carrying the machete.

They threatened the male cashier with the weapon before escaping with the cash.

Ali Rafati, for Danvers, said his client was vulnerable.

He added the defendant had mental health difficulties and ended up sleeping rough in all weathers.

Mr Rafati said: “The robbery lasted about 30 seconds. No harm was caused to anyone. If any resistance had been offered he would have turned on his heels.

“He wanted money so he could drink and carry on living on the streets.”

Steven Danvers (left) and Benjamin Rogers, also known as Clancy

Steven Danvers (left) and Benjamin Rogers, also known as Clancy

Michael Green, for Rogers, also known as Clancy, said: “It is hardly the most sophisticated robbery. He was a regular there and they would know him and recognise him.”

Mr Green said that his client also had trouble with mental health problems and finding a settled address.

He added: “He is 28 years old and since 2010 until August last year he was in prison or at a psychiatric hospital. That is the sad reality.”

Plymouth Herald

‘Low life scum’ sex offender jailed again for contacting Plymouth victim.

By
July 4, 2017
Uncategorized

A pervert jailed for a decade for sexually abusing underage girls has been handed more time behind bars for writing a letter to one of his victims.

Dale Hewitt, aged 27, was branded a “low life scum” by the mum of one of the schoolgirls – who were driven to cut themselves or attempt suicide.

He was jailed last year for ten years for a string of sex offences, many committed after he plied his victims with drugs.

Hewitt, now at HMP Parkhurst on the Isle of Wight, wrote a letter which was delivered to the home of one of the girls a month after he was sentenced.

He appeared at Plymouth Crown Court via videolink to admit breaching the order banning him from contacting the girl.

James Targhidissian, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said she received a letter addressed to someone else, but clearly in Hewitt’s handwriting and directed at her, in August last year.

He added she told police she “went as white as a ghost”.

Mr Targhidissian said the letter was not threatening, enquiring about her and speaking about life in prison.

He added she went on holiday but handed the letter back upon her return.

Ali Rafati, for Hewitt, said: “He was not the person who sent the letter and did not authorise it.”

He asked why it had taken so long to bring the case to court.

Mr Rafati said that, with no response from the girl, Hewitt accepted he would not contact her “nor anyone else”.

Judge Paul Darlow said the letter had not been threatening and had not caused “serious psychological harm”.

He jailed Hewitt for three weeks, to be served at the end of his current sentence. Hewitt’s earliest release date is in four years.

Plymouth Crown Court heard last year that Hewitt slept with one schoolgirl and touched another indecently, often after giving them mephedrone and cannabis.

Hewitt handled weapons including a machete in front of the girls, then aged 13 and 14.

Manipulative Hewitt supplied both girls with mephedrone, or bubble, and sometimes cannabis before touching them sexually. He never asked for any money.

One girl told the jury through her recorded police interview that she was “wrecked” on drugs and alcohol, but Hewitt still had sex with her at his old flat in Clifton Place, Greenbank.

He later abducted a third girl aged 14, whom police found in the shower at his flat. The girl came to his home willingly, but Hewitt was under a duty to call the authorities.

Hewitt, previously of Marlborough Street, Devonport, changed his pleas during a trial to admit four counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child between December 2014 and February 2015.

He also admitted four counts of sexual activity with the other girl between April and December 2014.

Hewitt pleaded guilty to abducting the third teenager in February last year.

Hewitt was involved in a war of words with a weapon-loving thug who went on to murder innocent New Year’s Eve reveller Tanis Bhandari.

Hewitt traded threats with Donald Pemberton on Facebook – one of several men who helped provoke the random violence that night.

The jury in Hewitt’s trial were not told of his part in the night of terror which led to the murder of the 27-year-old builder in Tamerton Foliot on New Year’s Day, 2015.

Pemberton, then aged 21, and co-defendant Ryan Williams, then aged 22, were jailed for life just under 12 months later for the joint murder of Mr Bhandari.

Plymouth Herald

Plymouth man found guilty of stealing ex-partner’s bracelet.

By
July 25, 2014
EDL, English Defence League
Stefan Adamson, wearing a David Cameron mask, attending a previous court hearing

Stefan Adamson, wearing a David Cameron mask, attending a previous court hearing

A MAN has been found guilty of stealing a charm bracelet worth £1,500 in what a judge called a “mean offence”.

Stefan Adamson, aged 26, had denied the theft of the Pandora bracelet but was found guilty by a jury after a trial at Plymouth Crown Court.

He snatched the bracelet as he walked out of the woman’s home at the end of their relationship on December 17 last year.

Adamson, of Rougemont Gardens, Eggbuckland, admitted taking the piece of jewellery but denied dishonesty.

He claimed he was going to use the bracelet as a “bargaining toll” to force his ex-partner to return his property which he claimed was still in the house.

The bracelet, which was pawned by Adamson, has since been recovered.

Recorder Francis Abbott told him: “It is a pretty mean offence. You have done it out of spite.

“You just thought you would do this because of the break-up of your relationship.”

Adamson was handed a 12-month community order with a three-month curfew. He must remain at home every night between 9pm and 5am.

Adamson, who is working part-time as a gardener, must also pay £50 victim surcharge.

Ex-partner Jade Willis had told the court that Adamson had bought the bracelet for her during their “on and off” three-year relationship.

She added that charms bought by herself, Adamson, and others had since been added to the bracelet, which she thought was worth £1,500.

Miss Willis said she had left the bracelet in her jacket, which went missing after Adamson left the house.

The court heard she was contacted a month later by someone who had seen its photograph on a shop’s website.

Nick Lewin, for Adamson, said he had pawned rather than sold the bracelet so that it could be recovered.

Plymouth Herald

SA1SA2

You can read about his other conviction here

Plymouth women admit their part in religiously-motivated assault

By
July 22, 2013
affray, EDL, English Defence League, Racial Conviction, racially-aggravated common assault, Racist Abuse

A PAIR of women have been warned they may face jail after admitting involvement in a religiously-motivated assault on a Kurdish woman at a city centre takeaway.

Hayley Wells, 28, and Kelly Watterson, 30, were charged in relation to an attack on Sawda Kurdo at Istanbul Kebab in Exeter Street on August 31, 2011. The pair were due to stand trial, but changed their pleas to guilty at Plymouth Crown Court today.

  1. ​Hayley Wells, 28, and Kelly Watterson, 30, were charged in relation to an attack on Sawda Kurdo at Istanbul Kebab in Exeter Street

    Hayley Wells, 28, and Kelly Watterson, 30, were charged in relation to an attack on Sawda Kurdo at Istanbul Kebab in Exeter Street

Watterson, of St Peter’s Road, Manadon, admitted one count of affray and Wells, of Shell Close, Leigham, admitted one count of religiously aggravated common assault.

The prosecution offered no evidence in relation to the charge of affray against Wells and religiously aggravated assault against Watterson.

They were released on bail and ordered not to go within 100 metres of the kebab shop.

Recorder Jonathan Barnes told the pair: “This is a serious case. In adjourning it, I make no promises about what the sentence will be. All options, including immediate custody, are on the table.”

The Herald previously reported that Wells and Watterson were among a group drinking in the Wild Coyote pub near the kebab shop on the night of the incident. A court was told that the Kurdish family inside the kebab shop were subjected to racist abuse by a group shouting ‘EDL’.

Watterson was alleged to have thrown a glass into the shop which shattered.

Last year Michael Rafferty, 34 and formerly from Devonport, was convicted of resisting a police officer during the “large scale disorder” which involved about 30 people.

Wells and Watterson will be sentenced on February 22.

This is Plymouth

Mum put non-existent computers for sale on eBay and pocketed the cash

By
July 22, 2013
conditional discharge, fraud

A MOTHER put hi-tech computers which did not exist for sale on eBay and then pocketed the cash, Plymouth magistrates heard.

Hayley Wells, aged 26, tried to raise cash by selling iPads over the internet auction website but never sent the customers any machines.

Wells, of Shell Close, Leigham, admitted two counts of fraud by false representation on September 13 and 24 last year.

Sandra Walsingham, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said Wells advertised an iPad for sale on eBay and a man transferred £425 for it into her account.

Wells sent the buyer a message saying the iPad was on its way, but it never arrived. EBay’s history was investigated and it was found that £365 was paid to Wells for another iPad.

Paul Brookman, for Wells, said she had just split up from a long-term partner, moved into a new rented home and needed money for work on the property.

He said that she left her personal details with the buyers adding: “It is difficult to see how she ever thought that she was going to get away with it.”

Mr Brookman said that she pleaded guilty immediately to what was her first offence.

She was given a conditional discharge for two years and ordered to pay full compensation for the amount she received.


This is Plymouth

Offensive taunts directed at teenagers

By
July 18, 2013
community order, Racial Conviction, racially-aggravated common assault, Racist Abuse

A MAN shouted that a passing group of black teenagers were ‘looters’ in the wake of the riots last summer, a court heard.

Stefan Adamson, aged 24, then grabbed a 14-year-old boy and shook him by the straps of his rucksack in the city centre, Plymouth Magistrates’ Court was told.

adamson

Adamson told the group of six, who were all black save one who was from a Turkish background, that they were ‘rioters’ and ‘looters’ following the violence that tore through Britain.

Adamson, of Old Woodlands Road, Crownhill, denied racially-aggravated common assault and racially-aggravated threatening behaviour on August 12.

But he was found guilty of both offences after a trial. Sarah Vince, opening for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “He singled out a group of black teenagers and taunted them in the street simply because of the colour of their skins.”The boy, now aged 15, told the court he had been walking down Armada Way towards the Hoe with five friends on the afternoon of August 12.He said as they passed the outside seating area of The Berkeley, formerly Bar Ha Ha, a tall man with a prominent tattoo on his neck shouted that they were ‘rioters’ and ‘looters’.The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said the group walked by, but then returned to ask the man – Adamson – why he had called them names.He said Adamson accused them of ‘coming to our country’ and ‘taking our jobs’.

The boy said: “He started pulling the straps of my rucksack, he started shaking me and pulling me around.”

Adamson, who is 6ft 3ins tall, admitted in evidence to referring to the group as ‘looters’ and ‘rioters’.

But he said the comment was made to a friend and was a joke.

Adamson denied making any further comments and said he ‘did not lay a finger’ on the youth.

District judge William Tait said he was guilty of ‘offensive behaviour’ by insulting the group because of their appearance.

He added: “You showed hostility to the group simply because you perceived them not to be British.”

Mr Tait gave him a 12-month community order with 80 hours unpaid work. He was ordered to pay £25 compensation to the boy and £300 in prosecution costs.

The court heard that Adamson is already doing unpaid work on a community order imposed in November, when he admitted sending an offensive message by a public communication network.

Adamson, who had turned up at court wearing a David Cameron mask, urged internet users to ‘Bomb The Herald offices’.