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Racist woman, 79, jailed for calling for ‘new and better death camps.

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October 5, 2018
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A 79-year-old election candidate who called for ‘new and better death camps’ and likened Jews and immigrants to termites has been jailed.

Barbara Fielding-Morriss, whose manifesto praised Adolf Hitler, was given a 12-month prison sentence after a judge condemned her lack of remorse for the ‘vile’ offences.

Fielding-Morriss, who stood as a candidate in Stoke-on-Trent Central during last year’s by-election and general election, was convicted in June of three offences of stirring up racial hatred between September 2016 and February last year at Stafford Crown Court.

Passing sentence, Recorder Julian Taylor said Fielding-Morriss, who represented herself in court, had ‘not helped her cause’ by offering anti-Semitic mitigation.

he pensioner, who accused the judge of curtailing her freedom of speech, submitted three written statements to the court and in the witness box claimed she was protecting ‘my white nation’ from ‘annihilation’ by immigrants.

After saying she believed an ‘infestation’ of Jews had invaded Britain, Fielding-Morriss returned to the dock and was told she would serve six months of her one-year prison term in custody, and the remainder on licence. Recorder Taylor told Fielding-Morriss: ‘The background to this case is that you stood as a parliamentary candidate. ‘Your manifesto, which was published on a website and in a blog, contained material that formed the subject of the three counts on the indictment.

‘What I found particularly sinister during the trial was your attitude. You showed no remorse whatsoever. ‘Indeed even today, when I gave you a final opportunity to address me, you started to repeat some of the matters you put forward to the jury during your trial.’

The judge added: ‘The fact of the matter is you intended to stir up racial hatred. ‘The fact you were standing in a general election as a parliamentary candidate aggravates this case, because you were putting views forward to an electorate.’ The judge said the defendant’s age was not of itself a barrier to imprisonment, adding: ‘This matter is so serious that it crosses the custody threshold – an immediate sentence of custody is appropriate.’

Metro

Stoke-on-Trent councillor sorry over rows at pub

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September 19, 2018
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Richard Broughan apologised over arguments in pubs

Richard Broughan apologised over arguments in pubs

A councillor has apologised after arguing with residents.

Stoke-on-Trent City Councillor Richard Broughan was found by the authority’s Standards Committee to have got into a drunken argument over payment at a pub.

He had failed twice to write an apology letter and attend extra training, after being asked to do so by the council.

Mr Broughan has now apologised and confirmed he went to training for alcohol issues and will attend code of conduct sessions.

The Standards Committee upheld a complaint from an unnamed Stoke-on-Trent pub, during which the councillor, who represents the For Britain party on the Abbey and Hulton ward, was said to be “intoxicated and swearing” whilst arguing with a man at the bar, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

In a second complaint about a different incident – which was partially upheld – it was claimed Mr Broughan threatened to have the Travellers Rest pub in Milton shut down.

In a related incident, the councillor accepted a police caution for assault at a Milton fish and chip shop, but this complaint was not upheld by the committee as he was not on council business at the time.

Mr Broughan was previously ruled to bring the authority into disrepute over claims he made sexual remarks about a woman dressed as an elf.

BBC News

Keyboard warrior JAILED after calling for ‘mosques to be burned’ on Facebook in wake of Manchester bombing

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July 1, 2018
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Andrew Emery, of Bentilee, ‘let his fingers run away with him’ on day of the Ariana Grande One Love tribute concert

Drunken Andrew Emery has been jailed after he made public posts on Facebook calling for ‘mosques to be burned’ in the aftermath of the Manchester bombing.

The 45-year-old dad ‘let his fingers run away with him’ on the day of the One Love tribute concert organised by singer Ariana Grande last summer.

He posted, ‘It is time we started to fight back. The Government won’t do **** because of the PC brigade. Every time we have a terrorist attack we should burn a mosque’.

Three hours later he posted, ‘To all the British murderers and serial killers out there, do us all a favour and concentrate on the Muslim community’.

A further post read, ‘Burn a mosque today and feel better’.

His posts could be read by the wider public and he was arrested after a complaint was made to Humberside Police.

Andrew Emery was jailed after admitting stirring up religious hatred on Facebook

Andrew Emery was jailed after admitting stirring up religious hatred on Facebook

Now Emery has been jailed for two years at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Prosecutor Harpreet Sandhu said the comments came on June 4 last year, the day of a tribute concert following the Manchester MEN Arena bombing on May 22 in which 22 concert-goers were killed.

Mr Sandhu said: “The defendant posted, ‘It is time we started to fight back. The Government won’t do **** because of the PC brigade. Every time we have a terrorist attack we should burn a mosque, preferably when it is full’.

“Three hours later the defendant posted, ‘To all the British murderers and serial killers out there, ‘Do us all a favour and concentrate on the Muslim community’.

“He later posted in capital letters, ‘Burn a mosque today and feel better’.”

Mr Sandhu said the defendant’s posts were not confined to his 157 Facebook friends and could be seen by the wider public. The posts led to a member of the public contacting Humberside Police on June 4.

Mr Sandhu added that the posts were not isolated and Emery had made comments on previous dates including, ‘Trump had the right idea trying to stop Muslims entering his country. Maybe we should do it so we would only have to worry about the scum already here’.

The defendant told police he had posted ‘stupid comments’ on Facebook. He added he was not a racist.

Emery, of Aylesbury Road, Bentilee, pleaded guilty to three charges of publishing or distributing written material intending to stir up religious hatred.

Brian Williams, mitigating, conceded the defendant’s comments were ‘abhorrent’.

He said Emery is a hard-working family man and has a teenage daughter who is an Ariana Grande fan.

Mr Williams said: “She wanted to go to the concert but they could not afford to send her.

“At the time he drank too much and his father had just been diagnosed as terminally ill. These offences post date the terrible explosion in Manchester and there was the added factor his daughter could have been there.

“Without thinking rationally he allowed these appalling comments to pour out. He would not have gone in a pub or stood on a street corner and said such things.

“His fingers ran away with him. They were faster than his brain.”

Recorder John Butterfield QC told Emery his posts did a great disservice to those injured and killed in the arena bombing.

He said the defendant’s previous posts demonstrated that the three charges he pleaded guilty to were not isolated or uncharacteristic.

Recorder Butterfield QC said the offences were aggravated by the fact the posts advocated fatal violence, they were widely available to the public and they occurred at such a sensitive time.

He added: “They were hot on the heels of the London Bridge/Borough Market incident on June 3, the day before the tribute concert.”

Stoke Sentinel

Stoke-on-Trent Central candidate guilty of race hate charges

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June 21, 2018
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Barbara Fielding-Morriss, 79, denied stirring up hatred, saying her blogs were to educate people

Barbara Fielding-Morriss, 79, denied stirring up hatred, saying her blogs were to educate people

A 79-year-old woman who campaigned to be an MP and praised Hitler on a website blog has been found guilty of stirring up racial hatred.

Barbara Fielding-Morriss, a self-confessed white supremacist and anti-Semite, stood as an independent in Stoke-on-Trent in June’s election.

She described Adolf Hitler as a good man and wished Great Britain to be “white only”.

She was found guilty of three charges at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

The jury found her not guilty of a fourth charge of publishing written material with the intent of stirring up racial hatred.

Judge Mr Recorder Julian Taylor said some of the articles contained the “most vile details” he’d ever read and that she should be “thoroughly ashamed” of herself.

Fielding-Morriss, of Stuart Avenue, Draycott in the Moors, Stoke-on-Trent, stood in a by-election in Stoke Central in February 2017 after the resignation of the then Labour MP Tristram Hunt and again in the general election last summer.

She polled just under 250 votes in both elections.

She is the leader and only member of the Abolish Magna Carta Reinstate Monarchy Party, the court heard, and she commissioned a party website she could blog on where she made the inflammatory comments.

In four blogs between September 2016 and September 2017, she included statements about how asylum-seeking Jews were like termites and made comments about mentally disabled migrant children, jurors were told.

Remarks ‘justified’

Fielding-Morriss admitted to police after her arrest she was a white supremacist, a fascist and an anti-Semite but denied stirring up hatred, saying it was to educate people.

Jurors heard she was not on trial for being racist or a fascist but for whether she intended to stir up racial hatred by publishing the comments.

Representing herself, Fielding-Morriss said her defence fell under freedom of expression, set out in the Human Rights Act, and the special defence of public good and being justified in the interest of science, arts, literature and learning.

Although she accepted several posts were insulting, Fielding-Morriss said had no reason to believe that publishing the remarks would constitute an offence.

Her final submission to the jury was: “Don’t mind if you find me guilty as I’ve done my best to save you from extinction.”

Fielding-Morriss is due to be sentenced on Friday.

She was told by the judge he was “strongly considering” a custodial sentence and she should secure herself legal representation.

BBC News

Three-month ban for ‘intoxicated’ councillor who allegedly threatened to shut down Stoke-on-Trent pub

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June 21, 2018
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Disgraced Richard Broughan will still be able to attend meetings

Controversial councillor Richard Broughan has been banned from council premises for three months – except to attend meetings.

Members of Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s standards committee imposed the sanction after upholding one complaint and partially upholding a second against the Abbey Hulton and Townsend councillor.

The first complaint – which was fully upheld – related to an incident at a Stoke-on-Trent pub in October 2016.

The second complaint related to an incident at the Travellers Rest pub, in Milton, which was also upheld by the committee. But a subsequent incident at a Milton fish and chip shop was not upheld because Mr Broughan was not on council business at the time.

Mr Broughan did not attend today’s hearings and was tonight unavailable for comment.

The first complaint was lodged by Frank Buxton who described Mr Broughan as ‘intoxicated’ and ‘swearing loudly’. Mr Broughan accepted there had been an issue with the payment for drinks and that he got into an argument with a man at the bar.

But according to Mr Buxton’s statement, Mr Broughan was not served and was asked to leave. Outside the pub he told Mr Buxton he was a councillor and handed him his business card. Mr Buxton subsequently made a formal complaint to the council about Mr Broughan’s behaviour.

Council investigator Clare Clarke ruled Mr Broughan’s behaviour put him in breach of the council’s code of conduct.

Speaking at today’s hearing, she said: “Mr Broughan was acting as a councillor and I have been provided with the business card he presented on the night in question. I was able to meet with the landlord’s son and daughter and the statement from them corroborated that version of events.”

Chairman Ross Irving condemned Mr Broughan and claimed he has a drink problem.

He said: “Officers from the democratic services department have spent a considerable amount of time and effort after difficult meetings where it was clear that Mr Broughan was under the influence of drink. Mr Broughan has a serious problem with alcohol – he cannot go around behaving like he was.”

The committee found Mr Broughan had breached authority rules about treating others with respect and his behaviour had brought the authority into disrepute.

The second complaint related to a verbal spat with a man in January which started in the Travellers Rest and continued at a chip shop. It was also claimed Mr Broughan threatened to have the Travellers Rest shut down. He accepted a police caution for an assault at the chip shop, which meant paying £100 compensation to his victim, apologising to him and attending an alcohol management course.

Mr Broughan has insisted he was not acting in an official capacity. But council investigator Christopher Parry found Mr Broughan was acting in an official capacity at the Travellers Rest and in an unofficial capacity at the takeaway.

The committee found he breached authority rules during the Travellers Rest incident. He must write a letter of apology to the complainants and the chip shop manager. He will also have to attend training.

Mr Irving had earlier likened the committee’s powers to a ‘toothless tiger’.

He added: “Mr Broughan has behaved in an appalling way. This is one of the worst cases the panel has heard for a considerable period of time.”

Stoke Sentinel

Britain First supporter David Davis attacked police officer during far-right protest

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November 15, 2017
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Defendant, 20, reacted after counter-protester chucked firework during demonstration organised by Stoke-on-Trent Infidels

‘Abusive’ Britain First supporter David Davis ran at a police line and shoved an officer in the chest during a far-right protest.

The 20-year-old attended the Burslem protest which was organised by Stoke-on-Trent Infidels and featured Britain First leaders Paul Golding and Jayda Fransen.

But the father-of-one became angry when a counter-protester threw a firework towards the Swan Square crowd during the ‘rally against grooming’ demonstration.

Now Davis, of Leek New Road, Cobridge, has admitted assaulting PC Stuart Fellhouse.

Britain First supporter David Davis being arrested at far-right rallyBritain First supporter David Davis being arrested at far-right rally

Britain First supporter David Davis being arrested at far-right rally

North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard the rally took place on October 28. Police have previously stressed more arrests will be made following last month’s protest.

“Davis pushed the PC with both his hands in the middle of the chest before jumping back into the crowd. He was then put on the floor by another officer and arrested.

“The defendant accepted he should not have done it and said he pushed the officer because he wanted to get to the other crowd.”

Britain First supporter David Davis is wrestled to the floor by police

Britain First supporter David Davis is wrestled to the floor by police

Scott Ashdown, mitigating, told the court that the defendant has started an anger management course. He is already subject to a 12-month community order for a racially-motivated offence and has been working with the probation service.

PC Fellhouse was not injured in the incident and called for a community order to teach him about other beliefs and cultures.

The defendant was handed a 12-month community order.

Magistrate Vivian Patterson said: “It is to your credit that you have been complying with the probation service but you have found yourself in court for assaulting a police officer. You know it is wrong and we are making you subject to the community order so you do more work with the probation service.”

Davis must also pay £135 court costs, an £85 victim surcharge, a £50 fine, and £30 compensation to PC Fellhouse.

Stoke Sentinel

Faces of men jailed for life for murdering ‘lovable rogue’ Lee Brooks

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May 29, 2017
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Stephen Weeks and Drew Thorpe were found guilty by a jury at Warwick Crown Court after a five week trial.

These are the faces of two men sentenced to life following the murder of ‘lovable rogue’ Lee Brooks.

Stephen Weeks, 48, and Drew Thorpe, 19, were told on Thursday by a Crown Court judge that they would spend at least 16 years and 12 years in prison respectively.

The pair were found guilty by a jury at Warwick Crown Court after a five week trial.

The pair attacked Mr Brooks with a claw hammer and a spanner while he slept at Weeks’ home in Hugh Road during the morning of August 26, 2016.

Stephen Weeks (left) and Drew Thorpe (right)

Stephen Weeks (left) and Drew Thorpe (right)

Despite the best efforts of the emergency services and medical staff, he died five days later in hospital.

Weeks, of Hugh Road, Stoke, and Thorpe, of Hollis Road, Stoke, had denied murder.

Sentencing judge Richard Griffith-Jones said: “I am acutely aware of the terrible shock that it is when a loved one dies suddenly.

“When that happens in circumstances of this brutality it is all the more shocking. So also is it a terrible thing for a person to outlive their own child.

“I hope they will be able to pass onto Lee Brooks’ children memories of him and his character which will be so important…that they will be able to have affection and pride in the person that gave them life that is no longer there.”
Coventry Telegraph

Grandparents are jailed after ‘Nazi salutes’ in gang attack

By
November 24, 2015
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THREE grandparents have been jailed for attacking a couple outside a pub – because they thought the male victim was Polish.

Paul Clarke, Sean Pickerill and Judith Pickerill – all in their forties – took part in the assault on Slovakian Milan Panacek and his English girlfriend Genevieve Barnett during a night out in Newcastle.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard tension had sparked between the male defendants and Mr Panacek because of the design of T-shirts they were wearing.

Sean Pickerill’s top bore the logo ‘Blood and Honour – England’, while Clarke’s had the brand ‘One True Saxon’.

Mr Panacek’s shirt had a quote in Spanish relating to the country’s civil war.

Following a disagreement on the dancefloor of The Rigger pub, Mr Panacek and Miss Barnett went outside where they were attacked by a group of around eight people, which included the defendants.

Prosecutor Elizabeth Power said: “They were shouting racial abuse about Mr Panacek being Polish.

“He tried to tell them he wasn’t Polish.

“Judith Pickerill punched Miss Barnett and scratched her to the face.

She pulled her backwards, pulling at her hair extensions.

“She fell to the floor and hit her head on the pavement.

“Her extensions were pulled out at the roots and blood was coming from her head.”

Judith Pickerill, aged 45, of St Bernard’s Road, Newcastle, went on to assault the pub’s manager Robert Birchill.

Father-of-three Sean Pickerill, aged 46, and Clarke were attacking Mr Panacek.

Police arrived to find the group which included the defendants making Nazi salutes and shouting: “Go back to your own country.”

Miss Power said witnesses described the group as ‘like a pack of animals’.

The court heard Miss Barnett suffered injuries including concussion and whiplash, and suffered blackouts after the incident.

Mr Panacek, who has lived in the UK for six years, had a fractured nose.

All three defendants pleaded guilty to racially aggravated assault occasioning actually bodily harm. Judith Pickerill also admitted common assault.

The court heard they all had previous convictions but had not been in trouble for a number of years.

Marc Davies, representing Judith Pickerill and 47-year-old Clarke, also of St Bernard’s Road, said: “They are ashamed and very sorry.

“These are two people that had been out of trouble for a long time, addressed any issues with drugs and settled down with families and full time employment.

“They are active and involved grandparents.”

Paul Cliff, representing Sean Pickerill, of St Giles Road, Knutton – who also has a grandchild – said: “He works in the construction industry alongside people from all over the world including Eastern Europeans and there have been no problems.”

Judge David Fletcher sentenced each defendant to 12 months in prison. He told them: “This was an ugly, appalling incident. Your racial comments, in the hearing of numerous people, were completely ignorant. You are three people in your mid-forties. That makes this offence even more shocking.”

Stoke Sentinel

sean-pickerill

Heavy Newcastle drinker punched girlfriend in face – moments after revealing he wanted to dump her.

By
June 26, 2014
assault, EDL, English Defence League, Jailed

HEAVY drinker Kelvin Chell hit his partner in the face up to four times – moments after revealing he wanted to end their relationship.

The 36-year-old left Zoe Platt with bruised eyes and swelling to her forehead after she confronted him about their possible split.

Now Chell has been jailed for 25 weeks after admitting assaulting Miss Platt.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard the couple had been together for three years.

But by August 24 last year their relationship was coming to an end.

Prosecutor Joanne Wallbanks said: “They were together at her flat. He told her he intended to leave. She took that badly. There was a physical confrontation. He struck her to her face three or four times and left.”

Chell, formerly of Carryer Place, Poolfields, Newcastle, answered no comment to questions in his police interview. But he later pleaded guilty to assault.

Jason Holt, mitigating, said both Chell and Miss Platt had a problem with alcohol at the time of the incident.

Mr Holt said: “The incident stemmed from his desire to leave the relationship.”

The court heard Chell now has a new partner and has significantly reduced the amount he drinks.

Mr Holt added: “He is in a settled relationship, and in a very settled job. He does not wish to have any further contact with the complainant.”

Mr Holt asked Judge Paul Glenn to avoid sending Chell to jail after arguing society would be better protected if he was given the chance to work with the probation service.

But the judge said the offence was so serious that the defendant had to be jailed.

Judge Glenn said: “You have a propensity for violence.

“Zoe Platt was your partner and you plainly both had difficulties with alcohol.

“You fell out on August 24 and you struck her a number of blows, you say no more than three or four. But they were obviously with some force because they caused significant bruising and swelling and she was left feeling shocked and scared.

“The problem with you seems to be when you are in drink, you can’t control your temper.

“You are a big man. To hit her three or four times and that seems to be unnecessary on any show.”

Stoke Sentinel

Thug glassed a man at his Newcastle home – because he asked him to put his dog on a lead.

By
February 15, 2014
EDL, English Defence League, Jailed
Matthew Walley

Matthew Walley

DRUNKEN Matthew Walley smashed a man over the head with a bottle – after he was asked to put his dog on a lead.

The 22-year-old was told by Mark Dias to put his dog on a leash as he was concerned it may harm his partner’s cat.

But Walley who had drunk 20 cans of lager, became aggressive.

Mr Dias told him he did not want any trouble but the defendant raised his hand and smashed a bottle or glass on his head causing a 2cm cut

Now Walley has been jailed for two years and three months after admitting assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Walley had spent May 25 drinking and at 11pm Mr Dias noticed the defendant’s dog was in his partner’s garden in Silverdale Road, Newcastle.

Prosecutor Joanne Wallbanks said: “Mr Dias asked the defendant if he would put the dog on its lead as he was concerned his partner’s cat would be harmed.

“The defendant was acting as if he had been drinking, and was irrational and aggressive.

“The defendant said, ‘Come on lad’. He was twice the size as Mr Dias who said he did not want any trouble.

“The defendant raised his hand and slammed a bottle or glass on Mr Dias’s head causing a 1cm-2cm laceration, which was glued.”

Police arrived and Walley said: “If you touch me I will set my dog on you.”

The court heard Walley, of Kimberley Road, Newcastle, has previous convictions for threatening behaviour, robbery, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Stuart Muldoon, mitigating, said Walley had a history of mental illness but his family have seen a dramatic change in him as a result of the medication he has been prescribed.

Mr Muldoon said: “He is adamant that his future is positive. He now realises the triggers behind his offending, both the use of alcohol, binge drinking, and the regular use of cannabis. He appreciates cannabis exacerbates whatever issues are going on in his mind.”

Judge Paul Glenn said a sentence of immediate custody was inevitable and jailed Walley for 27 months.

He said: “Mr Dias was simply trying to get his partner’s cat in the house. He was concerned about the cat’s safety and asked you to put your dog on a lead.

“You became aggressive and confrontational.

“He was scared and he told you he did not want any trouble. You smashed a glass or bottle against his head and the glass shattered.

“Fortunately the injuries were not as serious as they could have been but they required hospital treatment.”

Judge Glenn said the offence was aggravated because Walley used a weapon, he has relevant previous convictions, he was on bail for another matter and was drunk.

He added: “As matters stand you represent a high risk of re-offending and of causing serious harm to other people.”

Stoke Sentinel

Matt Walley facebook

Matt Walley facebook