Archive

Tag Archives: witness intimidation

Nazi-obsessed racist had cans of CS spray at his home

By
December 20, 2020
Uncategorized

He was jailed earlier this year for putting Adolf Hitler stickers on lampposts

David Holmes was congratulated by one Far Right movement for ‘a good job in Heanor

This racist who was previously jailed for peppering lamp posts and bus stops with Neo Nazi stickers, has now been sent back to prison after police found cans of CS gas at his home.

Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court heard how officers uncovered the banned spray when they went to the home of David Holmes, in Heanor, on June 12.

The heavily-tattooed 63-year-old, who has an infatuation with the Far Right pleaded guilty to four counts of possessing a weapon designed or adapted for the discharge of a noxious liquid.

The magistrates who jailed him for 26 weeks told him “it has to be custody because these are very serious matters”.

In August, Holmes was jailed for a year after he pleaded guilty to a number of charges including racially aggravated harassment, racially-aggravated criminal damage and witness intimidation.

On that occasion Derby Crown Court heard how he placed the offensive stickers around Ilkeston, Heanor, Mapperley, in Shipley Park and on the Nutbrook Trail during 2019.

Siward James-Moore, prosecuting on that occasion said police received a number of complaints about them including one from the head teacher who saw one placed on a lamppost outside his primary school.

Mr James-Moore said: “Some said ‘deport illegal immigrants’ and other showed an emoji of Adolf Hitler with a hand written note which read ‘Muslim scum out’ and ‘Hitler was right’.

“More of the Hitler stickers were found around Heanor and Langley Mill and were forensically analysed and linked to this defendant through a fingerprint.

“Another sticker was found on a bus stop and showed a white toddler with a shaved head and the number 88 on it which is a link to a far right ideology linked to Hitler’s birthday and the letters HH for ‘Hiel Hitler’.”

Mr James-Moore said Holmes was arrested at his home address in Ashforth Avenue, Marlpool, Heanor and a number of items were seized.

He said this included letters from a far right movement the defendant is a member of congratulating him for “a nice job in Heanor” and to “keep up the good work”.

In August the hearing was told how Holmes also displayed a Klux Klan figurine from his window and put bottles of his “potent” home made wine on neighbour’s doorsteps.

On them were written more racist slogans and one celebrating Klaus Barbie, a Gestapo officer known as the Butcher of Lyon and who tortured and killed Jews during the Second World War.

Mr James-Moore said: “In interview, the defendant was upfront and frank telling police he had placed more stickers around Shipley Park and on the Nutbrook Trail.

“He said his views were the normal views of people living in the area and were not offensive.

“He said he had issues with extensive immigration and what he called the ‘dilution of Aryan blood’.”

Jailing him on that occasion, Recorder Stuart Sprawson said: “You have deeply-held entrenched views about other people of different ethnicity to you.

“One of the people to complain was the head teacher of a primary school concerned about the impact this would have on the pupils and totally against the views being taught there.”

Derby Telegraph

Neo-Nazi-obsessed racist stuck vile Adolf Hitler stickers around Derbyshire

By
August 10, 2020
Uncategorized

He claimed his views were ‘normal for the area’

David Holmes was congratulated by one Far Right movement for ‘a good job in Heanor

This racist with an infatuation with the Far-Right peppered lamp posts and bus stops with Neo-Nazi stickers, including one with an emoji of Adolf Hitler.

On them were offensive slogans such as “Muslim scum out” and “Hitler was right”, one of which was found by a horrified headteacher outside a primary school.

Derby Crown Court heard how David Holmes also displayed a Ku Klux Klan figurine in his Heanor window.

He also put bottles of his “potent” homemade wine on neighbours’ doorsteps. On them were written more racist slogans, including “black lives don’t matter,” “save my race” and one celebrating Klaus Barbie, a Gestapo officer known as the Butcher of Lyon and who tortured and killed Jews during the Second World War.

Jailing the 63-year-old married Holmes for a year, Recorder Stuart Sprawson said: “You have deeply-held entrenched views about other people of different ethnicity to you.

“One of the people to complain was the headteacher of a primary school concerned about the impact this would have on the pupils and totally against the views being taught there.”

Siward James-Moore, prosecuting, said the offensive stickers were placed around Ilkeston, Heanor, Mapperley, in Shipley Park and on the Nutbrook Trail during 2019.

He said police received a number of complaints about them.

Mr James-Moore said: “Some said ‘deport illegal immigrants’ and other showed an emoji of Adolf Hitler with a hand written note which read ‘Muslim scum out’ and ‘Hitler was right’.

“More of the Hitler stickers were found around Heanor and Langley Mill and were forensically analysed and linked to this defendant through a fingerprint.

“Another sticker was found on a bus stop and showed a white toddler with a shaved head and the number 88 on it which is a link to a far-right ideology linked to Hitler’s birthday and the letters HH for ‘Heil Hitler’.”

Mr James-Moore said Holmes was arrested at his home address in Ashforth Avenue, Marlpool, Heanor and a number of items were seized.

He said this included letters from a Far-Right movement the defendant is a member of congratulating him for “a nice job in Heanor” and to “keep up the good work”.

Mr James-Moore said: “In interview, the defendant was upfront and frank, telling police he had placed more stickers around Shipley Park and on the Nutbrook Trail.

“He said his views were the normal views of people living in the area and were not offensive.

“He said he had issues with extensive immigration and what he called the ‘dilution of Aryan blood’.”

Mr James-Moore said after being released on bail for that series of offences, Holmes’ next offence happened on December 14, 2019.

He said he placed a US Confederate flag in his window and a figurine of a Ku Klux Klan member wearing a conical hat which was reported to the police by neighbours.

Mr James-Moore said the final set of offences involved the bottles of wine with offensive and racist messages.

He said: “Finally, on July 19, the defendant went out into his garden and began arguing with a neighbour over a dispute he had about a shed they were erecting.

He told them he would burn it down and said he would send ‘200 skinheads to come and knock at your door as you’re a grass’ or words to that effect.”

Holmes, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to a number of charges including racially aggravated harassment, racially-aggravated criminal damage and witness intimidation.

Joe Harvey, mitigating, said: “I had a brief conference with Mr Holmes this morning during which he told me he knows what he did was hurtful and apologises for the appalling offences.

“He describes his behaviour as ‘evil’ and that’s not far off the mark.”

As well as the jail sentence Holmes was handed a two-year restraining order not to contact his neighbour and a two-year criminal behaviour order which says he is not allowed to place stickers on any items which would be visible to other people.
Derby Telegraph

Family reacts to murder conviction of EDL thug who killed Clement ‘Butch’ Desmier

By
March 14, 2016
Uncategorized

A VIOLENT EDL thug who slashed a man’s throat has been convicted of murdering a Bradford grandfather.

A jury of seven men and five women has returned its unanimous verdict following a two-week trial at Bradford Crown Court.

Clement ‘Butch’ Desmier, 68, was murdered at his home in Rowlestone Rise, Greengates, on August 23, 2012.

Today, his family said the death and what he must have suffered in his final moments would haunt them forever.

During the trial, forensic pathologist Dr Christopher Johnson said the cause of death was multiple injuries, including stab wounds.

Dr Johnson said it was highly likely Mr Desmier’s injuries – which included 60 penetrative puncture wounds to his body from a screwdriver and a single typical knife stab wound to his abdomen – were inflicted while he was sat in his armchair, in the front room of his home.

Killer David Lawler, formerly of Central Avenue, Shipley, was also today found guilty of two counts of intimidation, relating to a witness who gave evidence.

The 33-year-old, who was wearing a grey suit, pale blue shirt and blue spotted tie, showed no emotion as the verdicts were given, but there were cries of ‘yes’ from the public gallery.

Co-accused Nathan Jefferson, 20, of Springwell View, Holbeck, Leeds, admitted the murder charge before the start of the trial.

Mr Justice Blake said both men would be sentenced on Wednesday, March 23.

Earlier in the trial Lawler had admitted to the jury that he was an EDL thug who had also slit a man’s throat, but denied the murder.

“Butch was well known in his local community and should have been celebrating his 72nd birthday this month with family and friends.

“I hope that the successful conclusion of this case today will finally provide Butch’s family and friends with some closure to what has been a very traumatic time for them.”

A statement from the Desmier family, said: “Today sees the end of a three and a half year agonising wait to identify those responsible for the brutal murder of our father.

“The loss of our father has had a devastating impact on our lives. The fact that he was a vulnerable old age pensioner, viciously attacked in his own home with weapons, will haunt us all for the rest of our lives.

“Two ruthless individuals with no regard for life ripped our lives apart that day and we will never recover from that.

“We would like to praise the brave individuals that came forward and provided information to the police investigation about Lawler and Jefferson’s involvement. Their courage assisted with the conviction of these two individuals which will hopefully allow our father to finally rest in peace.

“We would also like to thank West Yorkshire Police for their unrelenting determination to bring those responsible to justice. They have been an immense support to our family throughout this difficult time. They never gave up and for that we will be forever grateful.”

Telegraph and Argus

Crazed EDL supporter jailed after air rifle incident at Muslim home

By
October 9, 2013
EDL, English Defence League, grievous bodily harm, Jailed

A CRAZED English Defence League supporter from Rowley Regis has been jailed for brandishing an air rifle as he shouted racial abuse at a Muslim family’s home.

Neighbours of the Muslim family were terrified after seeing Shaun Havelin, aged 28, screaming and shouting racial taunts with the gun whilst wearing an EDL sweater.

The incident was sparked after an argument with his mother at her Warley Hall Road in which he shook his beloved sweater in her face and said: “I want to die in this.”

He then charged round to the Muslim’s family’s house in a nearby street not realising they were not at home.

Judge Martin Walsh told Havelin it was clear his anger had been directed at the house where the Muslim family lived.

He said: “Members of the public who saw you were in fear for their personal safety.”

Miss Sarah Pratt, prosecuting, said: “The gun was pointed towards the floor but his finger was on the trigger and his other hand was holding the barrel.

“People who saw him were very scared fearing he would be able to quickly lift the rifle and fire at them because in the dark, they did not know it was an unloaded air rifle.”

Keith Ingram just happened to be in the street and he later told police officers he believed he could have been shot and he reflected on the incident on a daily basis.

Havelin was bailed by police after his arrest and he appeared before Crown Court to deny charges but after learning his mother was to be a witness for the prosecution he warned her he would make sure she never gave evidence before smashing a window in her car.

Miss Pratt said he was allowed bail again and after bumping into a former partner by chance near Blackheath High Street Havelin punched her hard in the face fracturing an eye socket.

Havelin, of Ruskin Avenue, admitted possessing a firearm, witness intimidation and causing grievous bodily harm and the judge further made a five year restraining order forbidding him from having any contact with his ex-partner.

Mr Nathan Cook defending stressed Havelin had not pointed the rifle at anyone and told the court he realised the distress he had caused to people in the area.

Halesowen News