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Brian (Clint) Bristow

Brian (Clint) Bristow

An English Defence League member who become involved with a clash with Muslims in Hyde Park has been banned from attending future marches without notifying police in advance.

Brian Bristow, 38, of no fixed address, was one of three men who admitted threatening behaviour towards a man running a stall providing Islamic literature near Speakers’ Corner, in October last year.

The victim was verbally abused and had his possessions thrown around.

Earlier in the day, the men had attended an EDL rally outside the Israeli embassy in Kensington, which ended in a confrontation between EDL members and anti-fascist campaigners in Hyde Park.

At Woolwich Crown Court on August 3, Bristow was jailed for seven days and ordered to pay £400 costs and £10 compensation after admitting using threatening behaviour.

At the same court on Thursday, he was given a conviction-related ASBO (CRASBO) as part of his sentence.

The five-year CRASBO prohibits Bristow from attending any EDL march, demonstration or similar event in England and Wales without have notified a specified email account of Westminster police at least seven days before the event.

He must also not use words or behaviour which might cause harassment, alarm or distress, or be in possession of alcohol or controlled substances, in a public place on the day of a notified event.

In sentencing the men, the judge condemned the “thuggish behaviour” they had demonstrated.

Detective constable Andy Haworth said: “We have to strike a balance between people’s right to protest and the right of individuals to go about their daily business.

“However, we will not tolerate individuals using protest as a front for committing acts of violence and disorder, and hope the antisocial behaviour order will send a message to others.”

Hope not Hate

A 30-YEAR-OLD man has been jailed for three years after beating his neighbour with a dog bone.

Kelvin Chell, currently of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to wounding Nicholas Brearley with intent to do him grievous bodily harm, on October 22.

Judge Paul Glenn, sitting at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court yesterday, jailed him for the attack, which left Mr Brearley needing 36 stitches and with permanent facial scars.

Prosecutor David Bennett told the court that Chell had been celebrating Mr Brearley’s birthday with him and others at Mr Brearley’s flat in Wedgwood Street, Wolstanton.

He said: “Shortly after 9.30pm, the defendant took hold of the complainant’s partner’s breast as she was sat on the sofa.

“She made a joke of it, but Mr Brearley became angry and he and Mr Chell began to argue.

“The partner tried to calm both men down, but then left the flat and went home. Mr Brearley was unaware of this at that stage. The defendant also went back to his flat.

“When the complainant realised his partner had gone, he went to look for her at the defendant’s flat. The pair argued again, and the argument became physical. Mr Brearley was initially the aggressor.”

Mr Bennett said a witness then saw the defendant straddling Mr Brearley as he lay on the floor, and hitting him on the back of the head with a dog bone. He then dragged him on to the landing outside his flat and knocked on a neighbour’s door to show him what he’d done.

The court heard that the force of the blows to the head was so strong that blood was “splattered” on the walls of the flat.

Defending Chell, who has 19 previous convictions for offences including possession of a bladed article, battery and threatening behaviour, Peter Cooper said: “This happened in his home, and it happened most unfortunately after he had done the right thing and withdrawn from the flat where matters had become heated.

“At that point, matters were over and should have remained over.

“After the defendant had been pushed by Mr Brearley, he accepts he lost it and grabbed the nearest thing after Mr Brearley had gone to the floor. It’s a matter of huge regret that he has caused such serious injuries to someone he regarded as a friend.”

Judge Glenn agreed Mr Brearley was the initial aggressor and had entered Chell’s flat uninvited.

He added: “But that does not justify your response.

“You inflicted serious injuries to Mr Brearley. It’s plain from photographs I have seen that he bled heavily and will be left with permanent scars.

“You sat astride him as you hit him, and a witness said she thought you were going to kill him. And you finished off by dragging him to the landing and dumping him there.”

Stoke Sentinel

From January 2009

A judge has jailed a racist who insulted a bus driver and a security guard.

Lewis Nigel Foulds, who was told his “disgraceful” views would not be tolerated in Leicester, began shouting and swearing at Judge Simon Hammond as he was sentenced to 16 months in prison.

The 21-year-old, who appeared via a live television link between Leicester Crown Court and Leicester Prison, had to be restrained by guards and removed from the video-link room.

Sentencing, Judge Hammond said: “Leicester is a multi-cultural society and people in Leicester are proud of that and work hard to promote it. There’s no place in British society for people like this defendant, who holds disgraceful, disgusting views and adopts disgraceful conduct.

“People are entitled to go about their business without having racial insults thrown at them.

“People who have racist views, and behave in a racist manner and insult people with their racist views, must expect custody.”

Foulds, formerly of Hazeldine Road, Hamilton, Leicester,

told the judge: “You’re just making me worse.”

After his outburst, Judge Hammond said to the court: “We have just seen him storm out of the prison video-link room. He came back in and was abusive and swore. He was violent and was removed.”

The court heard that at 1pm on March 25, Foulds was on a bus in Keyham Lane, Leicester, which was being driven by a Sikh driver.

There were two female passengers on the bus.

Foulds told the women: “I bet the driver eats pork.”

He began to chant racist comments, claiming Muslim people were paedophiles, and also announced: “I’m a racist and a fascist and proud of it.”

Neither woman was Muslim and they were not wearing veils, prosecutor Michael Waterfield told the court. The driver ordered Foulds off the bus.

Foulds then picked up £2.14 in change from the driver’s tray and threw it, or dropped it, before getting off.

In a second incident, at 10.30pm on April 30, Foulds confronted an Asian security guard outside a Sainsbury’s store in Narborough Road, again hurling abusive and racist remarks.

When prevented from entering the shop, he challenged the guard to a fight and took up a boxing stance, before leaving.

Michael Garvey, mitigating, said: “He has an alcohol problem, which forms the background to his offending. When sober he’s a pleasant, shy individual.”

He said Foulds’ mind had been “polluted” by various racist groups.

“He doesn’t have any direct contact with them (the groups) any more but his friends do and he still sees those people,” said Mr Garvey. “It’s the Islamic faith that seems to be the target for his bile.”

He said Foulds has an attention deficit disorder and was “on the autistic spectrum”.

Foulds pleaded guilty to two offences of racially-aggravated threatening behaviour and theft of £2.14 from the bus.

The court heard he had three convictions for racially-aggravated threatening behaviour.

Leicester Mercury

Lewis Foulds is the EDL supporter with the red dot above his head

Lewis Foulds is the EDL supporter with the red dot above his head

EDL march in city centre 2014 English Defence League. Photo: David Lowndes

EDL march in city centre 2014 English Defence League. Photo: David Lowndes

An English Defence League demonstrator was fined at court after becoming drunk during a march in Peterborough city centre in March.

Andrew Robinson (46) travelled from his home in Birmingham to take part in the demonstration in Peterborough on Saturday, 29 March.

He was one of 450 people who took part in the demonstration, with about 100 taking part in a counter demonstration held by the Peterborough Trades Union Council on the same day.

Robinson was the only person arrested during either demonstration, and he appeared at Peterborough magistrates Court on Monday.

Jackie Carradice, prosecuting, said: “As the EDL march went past Bridge Street Police Station, Robinson was trying to break out of the barriers set by police.

“He was clearly under the influence of alcohol, and other members of the march were trying to move him to the edges, and were clearly annoyed by him.

“Police officers pulled him out of the crowd, and Robinson swore at the officers, and at a member of the public passing by.

“The officers needed to use force to detain him as he resisted arrest.”

Robinson, of Stratford Road, Birmingham, represented himself in court, and addressing District Judge Ken Sheraton, spoke only to apologise for his actions.

He pleaded guilty to using threatening words or behaviour, and was fined £100 and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £20.

Peterborough Today

AN ENGLISH Defence League demonstrator has lost an appeal against a conviction for shouting racist abuse at a rally in Farnworth last year.

John Banks was among the EDL supporters who congregated at Farnworth Park on August 26 last year where there was also a counter demonstration staged by Unite Against Facism.

Within seconds of getting off a coach at the park, Banks was arrested for shouting a racist remark.

He was later found guilty of using racist threatening or abusive words or behaviour in a trial at Bolton Magistrates Court on November 26 and yesterday, at Bolton Crown Court, he appealed against the conviction.

Banks, aged 55, of Adwick Lane, Toll Bar, Doncaster, arrived at court dressed in a T-shirt bearing the slogan “Gay Rights in Islam”.

Recorder Abigail Hudson and two magistrates hearing the appeal had to halt the proceedings three times after Banks tried to use it as a stage for his political beliefs instead of concentrating on the facts of the case.

The police officers who arrested Banks said that Banks arrived in the park carrying a loudhailer and behaving “loudly”.

A man was seen holding up a flag with an Islamic symbol on it and the court heard Banks shouted a racist remark towards the person carrying it as he was arrested.

Banks, who boasted that he had been arrested in several towns around the country, told the court: “If someone comes to an EDL demonstration they are not going to watch Bambi.”

Recorder Hudson told Banks the case against him had been proved and his appeal was dismissed.

Bolton News

John Sharpe, aged 45, from Walsall and Kyle Kirkbridge, aged 24, from Rugeley

John Sharpe, aged 45, from Walsall and Kyle Kirkbridge, aged 24, from Rugeley

Kyle Kirkbride, 24, of Rugeley, admitted threatening behaviour, while John Sharpe, of Leamore, Bloxwich, admitted racially aggravated harassment at the EDL protest in Walsall on 29th September last year.

Walsall Magistrates Court heard Sharpe made racist remarks to a police officer. District Judge Michael Morris ordered him to pay a £100 fine, £150 compensation, £85 costs and £15 victim surcharge.

The prosecution said Kirkbride, had made rude hand gestures to Asian men.

Mr Jason Georgiou, mitigating, said he was not racist and was responding to the men. He was given a £280 fine, told to pay £85 costs and £15 victim surcharge.

Express & Star

Jack Beasley

An English Defence League supporter who shouted abuse and used threatening behaviour during a demonstration in Walsall – has been handed a criminal anti-social behaviour order after narrowly avoiding a jail term due to health problems.

Jack Beasley travelled from Durham to take part in the protest which brought Walsall town centre to a standstill on September 29 last year, Walsall Magistrates Court heard yesterday.

Trouble flared, in Leicester Street, during the rally.

Miss Jo Taylor, prosecuting, said: “By the time the afternoon approached things were clearly getting out of hand.”

She said Beasley had been wearing a black EDL top and was identified on CCTV raising his arms and chanting.

She said other people around him were throwing ‘missiles’ at police and Beasley looked as though he had picked up some items and was making a throwing action in various photos.

He denied throwing any objects.

Miss Taylor told the court: “As you can see from some photos, he is on the frontline behaving in an aggressive manner, chanting at police.”

Beasley, aged 23, of Cedar Road, Bishop Auckland, initially denied using threatening words or behaviour with the intent to cause fear or provoke unlawful violence.

But he changed his plea to guilty on the day of his trial.

Sentencing Beasley, District Judge Michael Morris said: “It is clear you have hatred for certain members of the community. Whether you are going to change your ways or not, I do not know.

“You were picking up items which could be used to throw at police or demonstrators.”

He said the offence would usual carry a prison sentence but was prepared to suspend the jail term because Beasley had health problems.

Beasley was sentenced to 12 weeks in jail, suspended for 12 months, and was handed a community order with a supervision requirement.

He was ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work, pay £250 costs and was handed a three-year criminal anti-social behaviour order which forbids him from attending any rally by the EDL or Unite Against Fascism.

It also prevents him from displaying any banner or placard with writing or a logo which is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to any other person.

A number of protesters and police officers were treated for minor cuts and bruises after angry scenes unfolded last September.

Express and Star

The founder of the English Defence League has lost an appeal against his conviction for leading a brawl involving 100 football fans.

Stephen Lennon, 28, led Luton Town supporters as they clashed with Newport County fans in Luton, the town’s crown court heard.

Lennon, from Luton, was convicted in July of using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour in August 2010.

His claim that he was not in the group was dismissed by a High Court judge.

A confrontation began ahead of the evening game on 24 August when Newport supporters made a mass exodus from the Bedfordshire Yeoman pub just as 50 Luton fans approached.

The trouble involved chanting, missiles being thrown, assaults and damage to property, the court heard.

Lennon was at the front of the group, with others looking to him for leadership, and it is alleged he was chanting “E …E…EDL” the court was told.

‘Confusing scene’

Lennon told Mr Justice Saunders: “I was not with the group. There was a lot of shouting and screaming and some fighting but it looked more like ‘handbags’ to me.”

He claimed it had all been about England and Wales and that, while he may have made “sheep” insults, he had never mentioned EDL.

“It is ridiculous to suggest that, it is just not relevant.”

In dismissing the appeal Mr Justice Saunders said: “It must have been a very confusing scene and we are not making any detailed finding on exactly what happened and whether he was the leader of the group or not.

“We are not saying whether he was shouting about the EDL but on his own admission he was shouting something which was intended to be insulting to the Welsh and he was waving his arms about.

“It is impossible to accept any other intention than to provoke them into fighting.

“It must have been a frightening scene for anyone to observe.”

Luton magistrates had sentenced Lennon to a 12-month community rehabilitation order, a three-year ban from football and ordered him to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.

Lennon is due to be sentenced in November for an assault on an EDL member at Blackburn, Lancashire, in April.

BBC News

A protester at an English Defence League march in Walsall has been given a suspended jail term and banned from any demonstrations for four years.

Peter Jelley outside Walsall Magistrates Court

Peter Jelley was caught on CCTV gesturing and shouting at a line of police in Walsall as trouble broke out at the rally last autumn. He was sentenced to 20 weeks in custody, suspended by a year, and given a Criminal Anti-Social Behaviour Order at the town’s magistrates court.

The 24-year-old from Shropshire admitted a public order offence of using threatening or abusive behaviour at a previous court hearing and was sentenced yesterday.

The footage from the afternoon of September 29 was played to District Judge Michael Morris and showed Jelley walking up to officers and ‘gesticulating and shouting.’ This was despite the efforts of a female to pull him away.

Mr Paul Nicholas, defending, said: “He has faced up to what he has done, he has faced up to being part of the march. He is shameful of what he has done.”

He insisted his client had disassociated himself from others and had become angry after a relative was hurt. The court was told Jelley has previous convictions for a racially aggravated offence in 2011 and assault the year before.

District Judge Michael Morris said: “You went there knowing what would happen. You were on the frontline facing up to police, clearly agitated and pointing to police.”

Jelley, of Prescott Close, Shrewsbury, was sentenced to five months in custody, suspended for a year.

He was also ordered to do 250 unpaid work and go to an adult attendance centre for 36 hours.

He was also ordered to pay £80 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

Express & Star

Two men have appeared in court after being arrested on the day of the English Defence League (EDL) protest.

Mark Alan Taylor, 39, of The Fairway, Leicester, admitted using threatening and abusive words or behaviour and was give a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £50 costs.

Jay Joseph Willis, 30, of Moorhills Cresent, Leighton Buzzard, admitted obstructing a police officer in the execution of his duty and being in possession of a small quantity of cocaine.

He will face a trial at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on January 17.

Both a condition of Taylor’s discharge and a condition of Willis’ bail ordered them not to attend any defence league or anti-Islamic gatherings of more than three people.

Both Taylor and Willis were arrested in Gallowtree Gate on October 9 following trouble at an EDL demonstration.

This is Leicester