Archive

Tag Archives: racially aggravated public order offence

Enjoy Christmas dinner in prison, Ryan… the man who went on a vile, racist rant on the tram on derby day has been jailed

By
December 14, 2019
Uncategorized

‘I do apologise, I’m actually a married man with kids, but City fans just rub me up the wrong way’

A ‘married man with kids’ who went on a racist, foul-mouthed rant on the tram on derby day faces Christmas behind bars.

Video footage of Ryan John Healey shouting that Manchester City is a ‘tiny club with a tiny stadium, run by p**i’s with p***i money’ was shared widely on social media at the weekend.

The clip was taken by a passenger on a tram travelling on the Bury Metrolink line at 5.45pm on Saturday (December 7), shortly after the game kicked off at the Etihad Stadium.

In the video, Healey, 29, can be heard shouting ’20 times… 20′ – a reference to how many times Manchester United have won the top-flight title.

He is later heard saying: “I do apologise, I’m actually a married man with kids, but City fans just rub me up the wrong way.

“With their s**t stadium and s**t fans.”

In the footage, passengers can be heard repeatedly asking Healey to be quiet.

One is heard telling him ‘you’re a racist’ and ‘you’re disgusting’.

Healey then appears to say: “Nah, it’s run by p**i money.

“You like blowing up the arena do you? That’s what funds you.”

He later adds: “We’ve got more class in the Stretford End than the entire s*******e you can’t fill.

“You’re a f*****g embarrassment to Manchester. You haven’t even got any points to back it up.

“If this was a Salford tram with United fans, you’d have got f****** leathered by now.

“All the tourists on here can take your shopping bags, take your f******g empty seats and f*** off.”

The game, which kicked off at 5.30pm, ended in a 2-1 win for United.

Healey, of Porchester Drive, Radcliffe, Bury, appeared at Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (December 12).

He pleaded guilty to a racially-aggravated public order offence and was sentenced to five weeks in prison and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £122.

An application was also made for a Criminal Behaviour Order and Football Banning Order. The court will deal with those matters on January 24.

Chief Inspector Matt Bailey-Smith, of GMP’s Transport Unit, said: “We do not tolerate any form of racism or hate crime and will deal with incidents like this accordingly.”

Healey’s arrest was one of a handful by the force’s new, dedicated transport team.

Chf Insp Bailey-Smith added: “One of the aims of the Transport Unit is to improve public confidence and reduce criminality and anti-social behaviour across the transport systems of Greater Manchester.

“These results prove that even within the first month of being established, the unit are already making a huge impact in improving safety and increasing confidence to those who use public transport.

“The unit works in partnership with local authorities and TfGM to ensure an effective and proactive police presence that can provide a response function to deal with ongoing crimes and incidents affecting public transport.

“My officers are there to keep the public safe, so if you are concerned about anyone acting suspiciously or you require help, don’t be afraid of approaching them.”

Manchester Evening News

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

James Goddard guilty: ‘Yellow vest protester’ convicted for assaulting M.E.N. photographer

By
June 26, 2019
Uncategorized

Goddard, who now has nine criminal convictions, has been fined and slapped with a restraining order after shouting and grabbing at the camera of a journalist covering a city centre demo for the M.E.N

‘Yellow vest’ protester James Goddard has been found guilty of assaulting a photographer as he covered a demo in Manchester city centre for the M.E.N.

Goddard, 29, grabbed at Joel Goodman’s camera as he took pictures and recorded video of the protest in Piccadilly Gardens in February.

He denied attacking him and defended himself in what was a heated trial attended by a number of his supporters, several of whom were removed from the courtroom at Manchester Magistrates’ Court.

However a judge this afternoon ruled his actions were unlawful and convicted him of common assault.

He was fined £300 and ordered to pay £500 in prosecution costs and £50 compensation to his victim.

A two-year restraining order was also put in place which prevents the defendant from approaching Mr Goodman.

He was found not guilty of a public order offence of using threatening words or behaviour to cause his victim to fear “immediate” violence after he told his victim he would “take his head off his shoulders.”

He told the court his words were a “common English idiom.” Judge Mark Hadfield said as the threat of violence was not “immediate”, the offence was not made out.

Before entering court a video of Goddard was uploaded onto Twitter of him saying he hoped the “got the right judge” and that he “got the right result”.

The court heard Goddard has nine previous convictions, including theft from an employer and failing to surrender in April 2010 and a racially aggravated public order offence in February 2011.

He told the court he now works as a “content creator” and is an “independent journalist”.

Police were earlier called into court after Mr Goddard surreptitiously held up a piece of paper with the words, “Pussy coward leftist soy boy” written on it as Mr Goodman entered the witness box.

Proceedings were temporarily halted whilst police officers, who were harangued by Mr Goddard’s supporters labelling them ‘jobsworths’, seized the piece of paper.

District Judge Hadfield warned that could have been treated as contempt of court but allowed it to “lie on the slate” and continue the trial after Mr Goodman ensured him he was happy to continue and be cross-examined by Goddard, who defended himself.

In video footage of the incident on Saturday February 9 this year from a Mr Goodman’s body-worn camera, Goddard lunges at Mr Goodman, twice trying to grab his camera as his victim backs away shouting: “Don’t you dare touch my lense!”

About 20 minutes later Mr Goodman told the court Goddard approached him again.

Goddard is filmed saying: “When there’s no police around here I’m going to take your head off your shoulders.

“Next time you are in London, you are finished, all the football lads know you. Next time you are down, see what happens.”

Mr Goodman told the court he took that to mean Goddard would “assault me in the future” and that is “scared me a bit.”

Using a megaphone and surrounded by yellow vest supporters, Goddard is then recorded referring to “Joel” and saying: “Your card is marked.”

Around 20 minutes later there is a third encounter where the two arguing about freedom of speech but this ends in a handshake.

Goddard was arrested five days after the incident at his home address on Kelvindale Drive, Timperley, Trafford.

He made no comment in his police interview but later claimed self-defence.

In court he He described his prosecution as a “witch hunt” and claimed he was being persecuted because Greater Manchester Police “fear the rise of the yellow vests.”

He said he had pushed Mr Goodman’s camera as he believed the pictures would be “given to organisations that tried to do me serious harm”.

He said: “I’m not proud of what I said. It’s a common English idiom. I wanted him out of my personal space.”

He added he had released a video “to my 15,000 followers” apologising for the comments to Mr Goodman.

Manchester Evening News

The moment a racist yob is arrested after performing a Nazi salute at an antisemitism rally

By
November 14, 2018
Uncategorized

A racist yob who performed a Nazi salute at a Manchester rally against antisemitism has been jailed.

Hundreds of people, including MPs and the UK’s chief Rabbi, were among those taking part in the demonstration in the city centre in September.

However, a court heard Joseph Brogan, 27, performed the ‘outrageous and provocative’ gesture in front of them as well as shouting antisemitic tropes.

He claimed he was ‘just expressing his views about Zionism’ but has now been jailed for six months by a judge who said racism of this kind needed to be ‘nipped in the bud.’

Those taking part in the rally were stood in Cathedral Gardens when Brogan approached them, William Donnelly, prosecuting said.

He was heard to shout ‘child killers’ and ‘you people don’t live in Israel.’

“That was then accompanied by him making the Nazi salute, with his extended arm as he walked past and made those comments,” Mr Donnelly said.

He was seen by two security staff who quickly alerted police and he was apprehended at the scene, as captured by the M.E.N’s photographer.

In his police interview he said he was just ‘expressing his view on Zionism’ and that they were ‘just his opinions’ and that he had freedom of speech, Mr Donnelly added.

He said he didn’t remember making the gesture and that if he did he must have done ‘in the heat of the moment.’

However Shirlie Duckworth, defending, said he now accepted that his freedom of speech ‘was not his absolute right’ and that he had caused upset and offence.

She said: “He didn’t attend that rally with the sole aim of causing that offence.

“He was in the city centre and having seen the rally decided to express his opinions on zionism.

“He was now accepts, by way of his plea, his freedom of speech is not an absolute right and that his behaviour caused people harassment, alarm or distress.

“These people were not attending a Zionist rally but an antisemitism rally.

“His actions were not pre-planned, they were impulsive, and although significant were limited in effect as he was quickly dealt with by the police.”

She added he was a high-valued employee at a catering firm and a reference was read by his mum who said ‘you couldn’t ask for a better son’ as he was helping her support his dad, who has bladder cancer.

Brogan, of Lees Street, Gorton pleaded guilty at the magistrates court to a racially aggravated public order offence.

He already has two other convictions for similar offences, the court was told.

And sending him to prison for six months Judge Martin Rudland said a message needed to be sent that, especially in the current climate, behaviour like this wouldn’t be tolerated.

Passing sentence at Manchester Crown Court he said: “This was targeted specifically at members of the Jewish community at a rally which was lawfully convened in this city.

“Antisemitism is an issue currently for those in authority, not only those in charge of law and order but those in charge of political parties.

“This country has a proud history of tolerance and harmony, and by and large we are good at it.

“There have been difficult times for some minorities and these are difficult times for members of the Jewish community, who have a long and fine tradition of contributing to the fabric of this city.

“What you did was express views which are highly offensive and which you must have known were highly offensive.

“Resorting to the Nazi salute which is an extremely provocative gesture and which has no place in our society, to a community who were peacefully demonstrating, is something the courts must take extremely seriously. It was outrageous.”

“This kind of behaviour must be nipped in the bud.”

Manchester Evening News

EDL supporter called Darlington police officer a ‘f****** P*** b******’

By
July 6, 2018
Uncategorized

A MAN drank 12 pints of cider and called an Asian police officer “a f****** P*** b******” before yelling “I am EDL” in Darlington’s police cells.

Thomas Mason also shouted out in support of imprisoned far-right activist Tommy Robinson after being arrested for being drunk and disorderly following an evening in the town’s Tubwell Tap public house on June 2.

But it was his language towards an ethnic minority police officer which earned him a more serious charge.

The 35-year-old, from South Kirby, Pontefract, appeared before magistrates in Newton Aycliffe yesterday and pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly, and a racially-aggravated public order offence.

Lorna Rimell, prosecuting, said: “Police were called by the door staff at the Tubwell Tap.

“The defendant was in a state of intoxication. Police approached him and he told them to f*** off and said ‘I f****** love England’.

“He was warned three times about his abusive behaviour and language and he told them again to f*** off.

“He was arrested and taken to the police station where he met the PC. The defendant spoke to him in a mocking tone.

“He then said you f***** P*** b****, I am EDL.

“He was chanting EDL, EDL, EDL and also ‘Tommy Robinson’.”

Once he had sobered up Mason, a forklift truck driver, told police he had drunk 12 or more pints of cider and had only a vague recollection of events.

“He said he doesn’t consider himself to be racist,” said Ms Rimell.

“He said he was disgusted when told about his actions.”

The court heard that Mason visited Darlington to offer support to a friend who was going through a difficult time and accepted he had become ‘completely intoxicated’.

Darren Brown, mitigating on behalf of Mason, said the defendant had very recently come out of a 12-year relationship and had two young children aged one and four, and had been drinking as things had started to get on top of him.

He had been using alcohol as a way to deal with emotional trauma, the court heard, and now had to regret the night he spent in a police cell.

Mr Brown added: “He states that he is not a racist person and has no idea why he would say such things. He also doesn’t usually drink because he works nights.”

Magistrates said had the case not been racially motivated it would be been considered a a far more minor offence.

Mason was handed a £300 fine, ordered to pay a £30 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

Northern Echo

Thug from Derby blamed Asian taxi driver for Manchester bomb then smashed up his cab

By
August 1, 2017
Uncategorized

Terence Poxon told police: ‘Yes, I am being racist’

A racist from Derby accused an Asian taxi driver of being responsible for the Manchester bomb then smashed up his cab with a wooden bat.

Terence Poxon said the victim had “firebombed kids,” and racially abused him – less than a week after the concert tragedy that claimed 25 lives.

The 58-year-old had dressed himself in a Union Jack t-shirt to deliberately parade around Normanton wearing it.

He told police he had armed himself with the weapon in case anyone challenged what he was wearing.

Terence Poxon, of Shelton Lock, threatened the taxi driver with a wooden baton (Image: Derbyshire police)

Terence Poxon, of Shelton Lock, threatened the taxi driver with a wooden baton (Image: Derbyshire police)

And Poxon also said he was pleased his actions had scared the taxi driver and told officers “yes, I am being racist” as he explained why he did what he did.

Steven Taylor, prosecuting at Derby Crown Court, said the incident took place at around 3.30pm on May 28.

He said Poxon had called a cab from his home in Acorn Close, Shelton Lock, which arrived minutes later.

Mr Taylor said: “The taxi driver asked him where he wanted to go and the defendant answered ‘Normanton’.

“When the driver asked him ‘where in Normanton?’ he suddenly became aggressive and said to the victim ‘you did the Manchester bomb’.

“He then pulled a wooden baton from his sleeve of his coat.”

Mr Taylor said the actions “frightened the cabbie” who managed to pull over in Chellaston Road and get out of the taxi.

He said Poxon also got out and used the weapon to smash three windows and cause dents to the car.

The offence was witnessed by people waiting at a bus stop who the taxi driver had gone over to for protection.

Mr Taylor said: “One of the witnesses said the defendant was wearing a Union Jack t-shirt and gesticulating in a confrontational manner shouting ‘Chelsea, Chelsea’ like a football chant.

“He then pointed at the taxi driver and shouted ‘guilty’.”

The police were called and arrived at the scene but Poxon had walked back to his home.

He was arrested and during the journey to the police station he swore at police officers, continued to racially abuse the taxi driver and said ‘he firebombed kids’.

Mr Taylor said: “He said to the officers ‘yes, I am being racist’ and he was not particularly apologetic about it.

“He told officers his intention was to go to Normanton Road wearing his Union Jack t-shirt and he had the baton in case anyone approached him about it.

“He said had anyone asked about his t-shirt he would have used the baton against them.

“He said he wanted the taxi driver to feel like the little kids did at the Manchester bomb.”

The Manchester Arena blast, on May 22, claimed the lives of 25 people and injured 250 more.

It was carried out by 22-year-old suicide bomber Salman Ramadan Abedi at the end of a concert by the American singer Ariana Grande.

Poxon pleaded guilty to a racially aggravated public order offence, racially-aggravated criminal damage and threatening a person with an offensive weapon in a public place.

Jailing him for 25 weeks, Judge Nirmal Shant QC said: “The victim was doing nothing more than carrying out his job in a law abiding way when you decided you were going to teach him a lesson for something he was not responsible for.

“Your behaviour was wholly unacceptable.”

Stuart Newsome, for Poxon, said his client had never been in trouble with the law before and had physical ailments including stomach problems, liver disease and chronic arthritis.

He said: “He is not a man of entrenched violence by any stretch of the imagination.

“He is remorseful and feels guilty and embarrassed about what he did.”
Derby Telegraph.

Man fined £250 for wearing anti-refugee t-shirt

By
February 24, 2017
Uncategorized

Northumbria Police is warning those who commit hate crimes that they will be tracked down and put before the courts.

The warning comes after a man was fined £250 for wearing a racially offensive t-shirt in public which displayed an anti-refugee image.

44-year-old Peter Hunt from Ashington pleaded guilty to racially aggravated section 5 public order after wearing the offensive t-shirt in Eldon Square in July 2016.

Last week it was revealed that the North East saw a rise in recorded hate crimes between July and September last year, following the Brexit vote.

Northumbria, Durham, Cleveland and North Yorkshire all reported an increase in hate crime offences between July and September 2016, compared with April and June 2016.

DCI Deborah Alderson, from the Safeguarding Department at Northumbria Police said:

The important thing to highlight about this case is that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated either by the community here or by Northumbria Police.

Being you is not a crime but targeting you is.

Targeting refugees in this manner is a hate crime which is never acceptable and offenders will be pursued and prosecuted.

– DCI Deborah Alderson

ITV News

pete-hunt

‘
Bloody foreigners … You don’t deserve to be here’: Vile solicitor launches racist tirade at against mum and young son on train.

By
February 4, 2017
Uncategorized

Bigoted Alexander “AJ” MacKinnon told lawyer Sanaa Shahid and her four-year-old son that they shouldn’t be in first class and shouldn’t even be in the country.

Alexander MacKinnon racially abused Sanaa and her son Zayn

Alexander MacKinnon racially abused Sanaa and her son Zayn

The Daily Record today exposes this solicitor and former public schoolboy as a vile bigot who spat racist abuse at a young mum and her little son on a train.

Former company director Alexander “AJ” MacKinnon, 47, was offended by the presence of Sanaa Shahid and her son Zayn, four, in ‘his’ first-class carriage. The snob sneered at them: “How did you get into first class? You don’t deserve to be in first class.

“You should be in common class. In fact, you shouldn’t be in this country at all.

“You don’t deserve to be here. 
Bloody foreigners. Where were you 
even born?”

Bully MacKinnon also swore at 
little Zayn. His social media “likes” include Donald Trump, the BNP and the far-right English Defence League.

None of the other passengers 
in the carriage did anything to help Glasgow-born lawyer Sanaa. But she bravely confronted MacKinnon and branded him a racist.

She reported him to the train manager and transport police took him away in handcuffs. He continued to spout 
racist bile and abuse when officers
interviewed him.

MacKinnon appeared in court this 
week and admitted a racist offence, 
but escaped with a fine.

He apparently hoped a quick guilty 
plea would help him avoid publicity.

Sanaa and Zayn fell foul of MacKinnon on December 29 on the 2.30pm Virgin train from London Euston to Glasgow Central. Sanaa was heading home with her son after visiting husband Aftab, 36, who is working in the UK capital.

“This man started behaving 
aggressively to my son, telling him to
 shut up,” Sanaa recalled.

“I said to him that my son hadn’t done anything and then the abuse began. I moved seats to try to get away.

“I was taken aback. I’ve lived in 
Scotland all my life and nothing of this nature has ever happened to me. I told him straight that he was being racist and the staff on the train heard it.

“There were another 10 to 12 
passengers in the carriage and 
not one of them spoke up. That was shocking too.”

Sanaa began filming MacKinnon and watched as he guzzled wine straight from the bottle.

She also listened as he picked up his phone and arrogantly told a friend that someone was “wasting police time” by accusing him of racism. He knew at the time that Sanaa had reported him.

MacKinnon spat at Sanaa: “I’m racist, am I? You’re a racist.” He then looked straight at Zayn and swore aggressively.

Sanaa said: “I started filming this man in the immediate aftermath 
of the incident. Even then I could
hear him talking on the phone, ranting about me and Zayn.

“The train manager contacted 
British Transport Police then came 
and sat next to me until the train got into Carlisle.

“The Virgin staff could not have been better. They realised what was happening and were brilliant.

“The transport police were waiting to interview me when the train got into Glasgow. They were brilliant too.”

But despite all the support she received, Sanaa admitted MacKinnon’s abuse left its mark on her. She said: “I found myself crying a few times in the days afterwards.

“I was just so shocked to encounter this level of racism.

“I was also shocked at the open aggression this man showed towards my son. He is only four years old.”

MacKinnon is originally from London and was a boarder at exclusive Milton Abbey School in Dorset, where boarding now costs £11,780 per term.

He has “liked” Donald Trump on social media and posted articles about former UKIP leader Nigel Farage. His other social media “likes” include the English Defence League, the BNP, the Scottish BNP and various Scottish Conservative associations.

MacKinnon also likes luxury Swiss watchmakers, high-end gentlemen’s outfitters and vintage car associations for models such as Bentley and Jaguar.

He appeared at Carlisle Magistrates Court on Tuesday and admitted
a racially aggravated public order offence. He was fined £1154, plus 
£50 compensation, a £150 victim surcharge and £85 in court costs.

MacKinnon booked into a hotel in Gretna for his court appearance and shamelessly reviewed it online, praising the “very friendly staff” and “fantastic breakfast”.

He also complained about a firm of solicitors, although he didn’t explain why he needed them.

He wrote: “Would NOT 
recommend. They don’t return
your phone calls and don’t reply to 
your emails.

“Found another solicitor who done what I wanted done within a day.”

We went to talk to MacKinnon yesterday at his plush flat in leafy Mansionhouse Road on the south side of Glasgow, but a man who answered the door said he spoke for him and then refused to comment on his behaviour.

PC Mark Mellenthin, who investigated the case, said MacKinnon’s “frightening racist outburst” left Sanaa “visibly distressed and shaken”.

He added: “People like MacKinnon must understand that abusive, racist behaviour has no place on the railway. Everyone has the right to travel without fear of abuse like this.

“When it does happen we will do everything in our power to bring people before the courts.

“Hopefully MacKinnon’s substantial fine will make him think twice before unleashing such vitriol on other members of the public.”
Daily Record

Men jailed over bacon tied to Bristol mosque door handles

By
July 20, 2016
Uncategorized

Kevin Crehan (left) and Mark Bennett were part of a group that targeted the mosque in January

Kevin Crehan (left) and Mark Bennett were part of a group that targeted the mosque in January



Two men have been jailed and two women have been given suspended sentences after rashers of bacon were tied to door handles at a Bristol mosque.

During the incident on 17 January, the group shouted racial abuse at a member of the mosque and tied a St George’s flag to the fence of the Jamia Mosque.

Kevin Crehan, 34, of Knowle, was jailed for 12 months and Mark Bennett, 48, of Patchway, for nine months.

Both had admitted religiously aggravated public order offences.

At the Bristol Crown Court hearing, 46-year-old Alison Bennett – the wife of Mark Bennett – was given a six-month sentence, suspended for two years, while Angelina Swales, 31, from Brislington, was handed a four-month sentence, suspended for two years.

‘Worship without fear’

The two women also admitted religiously aggravated public order offences in relation to the targeting of the Totterdown mosque.

All four were given a restraining order preventing them from going within 100m of a mosque anywhere in England or Wales for the next 10 years.

Insp Nigel Colston of Avon and Somerset Police paid tribute to the way the community responded to what happened.

He said: “The way local people came together with overwhelming support for the mosque made me proud to be associated with Bristol.

“There can never be any excuse for hate crime in any shape or form and this criminality will not be tolerated.

“All of our communities have the right to live and worship peacefully without fear of being targeted for their race or religion.”
BBC News

Mosque attackers deny racism

By
July 20, 2016
Uncategorized

ONE OF the men who admits a racially aggravated attack on Totterdown’s mosque has claimed in court that he didn’t know that bacon was offensive to Muslims.

Mark Bennett, 48, claimed he was not a racist and did not take bacon to the mosque in Green Street on January 17, 2016, intending to cause offence.

Instead, he said, he was trying to raise awareness about the plight of British armed forces veterans and homeless people who he felt deserved more attention.

Bennett, of Spruce Way, Patchway, his wife Alison Bennett, 46, Kevin Crehan, 34, of Springleaze, Knowle, and Angelina Margaret Swales, 31, of West Town Avenue, Brislington, have all pleaded guilty to a racially aggravated public order offence at the Jamia mosque.

Bristol crown court was told on June 17 that during the incident racial abuse was shouted at a Muslim man attending the mosque. Raw bacon was thrown and left hanging from the mosque’s railings and an English flag, the cross of St George, was left on the steps with the legend “No mosques, no refugees”, the prosecution said.

But the two men involved denied being racists, said there was no bacon thrown, and they did not hear any racial abuse. They claimed their protest was peaceful. Crehan said it was an attempt to get Muslims to “integrate”. “I grew up in Totterdown and I have got many, many Muslim friends,” he said.

Bennett drew a parallel with charitable activities.

“In my own time I go to the city centre and take coffee and bacon sandwiches to people who live on the streets,” he said.

Judge Julian Lambert asked Bennett if he expected people at the mosque to eat his bacon sandwiches and be grateful for them.

“Possibly,” Bennett replied. The court had heard that Bennett and his wife had bought the bacon and some bread in a £1 shop in Broadmead the same morning. The barrister for the prosecution, Ian Fenney, asked Bennett: “Did you expect people to eat raw bacon?”

“No,” said Bennett. “Where was the bacon going to be cooked?” asked Mr Fenney.

“It possibly could have been cooked in the mosque. I wouldn’t know, would I?” said Bennett.

He added: “I didn’t know that it was offensive to take bacon to the mosque. If I had known I wouldn’t have taken it. Mr Fenney responded: “I suggest you knew exactly how much offence would be caused by taking raw bacon and that’s why you did it. Why was bacon found on the door handles of the mosque? Because any Muslim entering the mosque would have to touch it.”

Bennett told the court he didn’t know the meaning of the word “jihad”.

The court was also told that in 2008 Crehan racially abused an Asian police officer at Broadbury Road police station, after he was arrested at his home during a domestic disturbance. Crehan said he was high on alcohol and drugs at the time but had since given both up.

Bennett was presented with several Facebook pages, posted in April 2016, in the name Marc Bennet, which contained offensive statements about Muslims and references to a recent attack on a mosque.

Bennett said the pages were not his and suggested they had been created to frame him by left-wing activists. He agreed that he had previously had another Facebook page in the name Mark English.

The four will be sentenced at another hearing on July 22, when the two women will be cross-examined.

The attack on January 17 resulted in an outpouring of support for the Jamia mosque, the oldest in Bristol. Hundreds of people attended an open afternoon the following weekend, and hundreds more pledged their support for the mosque being at the heart of the Totterdown community.

South Bristol Voice