DRUNKEN Anthony Forrester broke a deaf man’s nose in an unprovoked attack outside his home.

Philip Cotterill, who is profoundly deaf, was at home with him mum in Lower Bethesda Street, Hanley, at 9.30pm on November 8 last year when he felt a slight vibration.

He went to investigate and noticed eggs had been thrown at his window. He went outside, but could not see anyone.

He asked a neighbour to call the police and as he returned to his house he saw the defendant approach from an alleyway at the side of his house.

Prosecutor Philip Beardwell told Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court yesterday that Mr Cotterill saw Forrester urinate outside the fire station before he walked towards him.

“Mr Cotterill closed his gate. The defendant’s body language was aggressive. Mr Cotterill asked him to go away repeatedly.

“The defendant ignored the request and then hit him directly to his nose with a clenched fist.

“The defendant then grabbed a brick pillar causing it to fall down. He picked up a brick. Mr Cotterill turned to go in his house when he felt a hard blow to the back of his head.

“He ran inside and closed the door behind him.”

The court heard police officers saw the tail end of the incident and witnessed Forrester throwing bricks.

Mr Cotterill was left with a broken nose and a small cut to the back of his head, which needed one stitch.

In his victim statement he said the attack had left him more vulnerable, nervous and depressed.

His sleep pattern had been affected, as had his daily life. He added that he had to have his nose corrected.

Forrester, aged 41, of Furnival Street, Cobridge, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage.

Nicola Bell, defending, conceded it was a “dreadful” offence and a custodial sentence was inevitable.

She said Forrester, who has battled a heroin problem for most of his adult life, had no previous convictions for violence.

She said he was remorseful and apologised to Mr Cotterill and his mother.

“He was heavily in drink and had also taken diazepam. He has very little recollection of what occurred.

“He is not a violent man.”

Jailing Forrester for 20 months, Judge Paul Glenn said: “This was an unpleasant and totally unprovoked assault on an innocent man. He was deaf. There is no evidence you knew that, nor that you were responsible for the damage caused to his house which brought him out in the first place.

“While he was looking at the damage on the windows you came across the road. You punched him and hit him so hard you broke his nose.

“Not content with that, you pulled away part of a brick pillar. As he tried to flee you threw a brick at him.

“This has had a significant effect on Mr Cotterill.

“The offence is so serious only custody is appropriate.”

Stoke Sentinel

A 43-YEAR-OLD assaulted a man in his own home following a row over a dog, a court heard.

Anthony Forrester, aged 43, of St Luke’s Court, Hanley, was handed a 10-month sentence for assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Yesterday Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court was told Forrester, who has 28 previous convictions, hit Roger Rixon on May 12 leaving the victim needing hospital treatment.

After initially pleading not guilty to the charge, Forrester reversed his plea ahead of a court trial.

Fiona Cortese, prosecuting, said: “At about 7.30pm Mr Rixon had drank three litres of cider and the defendant was in the living room.

“During the argument the defendant punched him and then left the house.

“He was arrested on May 14 and said Mr Rixon was shouting at him. He said he had drank two cans of cider and regretted his actions and denied stepping on him.”

Although Mr Rixon claimed he had suffered a broken nose during the assault there was no medical evidence to back up his claim.

A statement by Forrester read out in court stated: “Mr Rixon and I argued and I punched him in the face and he grabbed my leg, so I kicked out.

“I don’t accept that I stamped on him and I deny I broke his nose.”

Hamish Noble, defending, said: “It was an argument over a dog and the condition the dog was in.

“He knows what he did was wrong and that he shouldn’t have done it.

“The defendant left a special school with no qualifications and moved on to drink and drugs.

“He now has settled accommodation in Hanley and lives there with his son.”

Judge Granville Styler said: “This was an unpleasant attack.

“If you continue with gratuitous violence you’ll get longer and longer prison sentences.”

Stoke Sentinel

Christopher Philips / Darren Clifft

Christopher Philips, from Wolverhampton, who used a series of pseudonyms and even impersonated mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik had pleaded guilty to posting three videos online, which were filmed at a music concert and intended to stir up racial hatred.

The court was previously told the event had been organised by an extreme right wing group in West Wales in March.

Philips – who was formerly known as Darren Clifft – was arrested later that month following an investigation by the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit.

The 23-year-old also faced a second charge of using words or behaviour intending to incite racial hatred, but it was left to lie on file after he pleaded not guilty.

During his sentencing today at Wolverhampton Crown Court it was revealed Philips had a Ku Klux Klan outfit in his room.

Judge John Warner told him: “Publication of this material which has particularly historical connotations would have been deeply offensive to many people.”

Det Insp Darren Powney, senior investigating officer for the CTU, said: “We understand how offensive and distressing this type of material can be and we worked with the Crown Prosecution Service to bring Philips before the courts at the earliest opportunity.

Express & Star

EDL News

A MAN who almost had his nose sliced off when he was attacked with a broken bottle has told how it has devastated his life.

William Burnside was yesterday jailed for six years for the vicious assault outside Yates’s Wine Lodge in Darlington last summer.

The 24-year-old was told by a judge at Teesside Crown Court: “A broken bottle can cause disfigurement – it can cause death.”

Victim Christopher Turner suffered three wounds down to the muscle in his arm as he tried to block further blows towards his face.

Police said afterwards that had any of the thrusts made their way past his defences, Mr Turner could have been caught in the neck.

Detective Constable Mick Trodden said: “They have both been lucky in a way. It could have been a murder case we were dealing with.”

The court heard how bad feeling between the two men had “simmered” for years before they clashed at the town centre pub.

The pair argued before Burnside was asked to leave, but he returned with a bottle of brown ale which he smashed and used as a weapon.

In an impact statement, 26-year-old Mr Turner – who is scarred for life – said he still suffers from numbness in his face and left arm.

He said he had to turn down a labouring job because he cannot lift heavy objects, and told how he is also unable to go to the gym.

Prosecutor Harry Hadfield said Mr Turner underwent a four-hour operation and plastic surgery, and has had four further hospital visits.

Vic Laffey, mitigating, said: “The incident occurred after a build-up of bad feeling which had simmered for a number of years.

“Mr Burnside deeply regrets what happened on this evening, and he deeply regrets the injuries he has caused this young man.

“He is clearly remorseful and up until this point in time, he had led a relatively blame-free life. He will take his punishment.”

Burnside, of Elton Parade, Darlington, admitted wounding with intent on August 22 last year at an earlier court hearing.

He told police after handing himself in that he had downed at least seven bottles of Newcastle Brown Ale and a pint that day.

Judge Simon Bourne-Arton said: “Goodness knows what went through your mind on this occasion when you carried out this very serious attack.

“When he came out, you broke that bottle and you had a very fearsome and dangerous weapon at your disposal.

“You broke it for the one and only reason to attack him and cause him more serious injury.

“He effects of the alcohol you had wore off. The effects of what you did to him will never wear off.

“He was left with scars and will remain with scars to his face and arm. His life has changed as a result of what you did.”

Northern Echo

Burnside, 2nd from the left

POLICE have confirmed that a dangerous armed robber and paedophile from Exeter was arrested this afternoon – four months after going on the run.

Officers cuffed Mark Sleman in the Smallfield area of Surrey.

A police spokesman said Sleman is currently in custody and would be returned to prison.

PC Mark Nagle who led the search for Sleman told the Echo recently that the net was widening in the search for him and officers believe he is no longer in the city.

Mark Sleman, also known as Archie, had once been convicted for kidnapping and trying to rape a 10-year-old child. He was released last year on licence as part of a seven-year sentence for robbing a homeless man at knifepoint and attempting to rob a garage shop supervisor in Exeter, again armed with a knife.

Despite being described by the judge as a “cold, callous psychopath” and being diagnosed with a personality disorder, the English Defence League supporter was allowed out of prison early.

He subsequently fled his bail hostel in Exeter and until today’s arrest had spent nearly four months on the run.

In a recent interview PC Nagle said: “We are following up leads and putting all our efforts into catching him,” he said.

“My message to the public who are concerned is that we are working very hard on bringing him back behind bars.”

Exeter Express and Echo

Frank Day

A FAR-RIGHT activist has been handed a community order for assault and firing an air rifle out of his New Addington home.

Frank Day, 65, attacked Samuel Bartlett and later fired a Titan air rifle from his house in Arnhem Drive, New Addington, on September 3.

He pleaded guilty to assault by beating and firing the weapon at Croydon Magistrates’ Court today (Friday).

Day, a member of the English Defence League (EDL), was sentenced to a 12 month community order during which he must complete 40 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay Mr Bartlett £60, and pay £85 costs.

The air rifle will be forfeited and destroyed.

Mr Day’s legal representative said his client accepted that firing the gun had been a “foolish act”.

In February 2012, Mr Day publicly campaigned against plans to build a mosque in Purley.

THE former leader of the English Defence League has been jailed for 18-months for mortgage fraud.

Lennon, 31, also known as Tommy Robinson and the founder of the EDL, was imprisoned for his part in a conspiracy to fraudulently obtain two mortgages amounting to £162,000.

He made two loans to people wanting to buy property and then pointed them towards a bent woman mortgage broker who helped obtain phoney pay slips and income details.

Before he was led off to start his prison sentence, the court heard the 31 year-old father of three will have to spend his time in custody in solitary confinement because he is now in danger.

His barrister Charles Sherrard QC said that in January 2013 when the Yaxley-Lennon was jailed for 10 month for using someone else’s passport to travel to the USA he had spent the whole time in solitary and was moved to four different jails for his safety.

“Even in solitary he was regarded as being in danger,” said Mr Sharrard.

However, it emerged in court today, that since last autumn when he announced he had left the EDL, citing increasingly racist elements within the group, he has now been alienated by the followers in the organisation he once led.

Yaxley-Lennon founded the EDL in 2009 after five Muslim men demonstrated in Luton against a homecoming parade by the Royal Anglian Regiment.

Mr Sherrard said that “He has alienated another large part of the community who saw him as their leader”

That meant, said the barrister, that Yaxley-Lennon would again have to spend his time away from other prisoners.

“He is on a wanted list for Al-Shabab so the prospect of prison for him takes on another level,” said Mr Sherrard.

The court heard how in the past while still the leader of the EDL Yaxley-Lennon’s home had been attacked and he and his family moved to a safe house.

Today at St Albans Crown Court he appeared for sentence having earlier pleaded guilty to mortgage fraud offences.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiring with others to obtain a mortgage by misrepresentation from the Abbey and Halifax building societies.

Judge Andrew Bright QC hearing the case described Yaxley Lennon as the “instigator if not the architect” of some of the frauds.

Passing sentence the judge told him “This was an operation which was fraudulent from the outset and involved a significant amount of forward planning.

Yaxley-Lennon will serve half the 18 month sentence behind bars before he is released.

He described the former EDL leader as a “fixer” by introducing others to bent mortgage broker Deborah Rothschild.

“I am satisfied you took part in a thoroughly dishonest course of conduct.”

The judge said he realised that any prison sentence he passed would be much harder for “Yaxley-Lennon” because of the need to protect him and the fact that he will have to serve it in solitary confinement.

Since leaving the EDL Yaxley Lennon has been travelling around the country with other community leaders promoting cohesion between communities.

On Monday he had been due to attend a Holocaust Memorial Day in Ipswich.

With him in the dock was Steven Vowles 26 of Heron Drive, Bushmead, Luton who admitted conspiring with others to obtain a mortgage by misrepresentation and transferring criminal property.

He also admitted possessing 3.48 grams of cocaine with intent to supply and being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.

Vowles had been a one time apprentice at Yaxley-Lennon’s plumbing business.

Lisa Moore 28 of Newbury Lane, Silsoe, Bedfordshire pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obtain a mortgage by fraudulent misrepresentation.

Mortgage Broker Deborah Rothschild, 44, of Poplar, Toddington, Bedfordshire, pleaded guilty to four charges of conspiring to commit fraud by false representation. The charges involved the obtaining of four mortgages.

Finally a cousin of Yaxley-Lennon, Anjee Darcy, 31, of Hardwick Green, Luton pleaded guilty to two offences of conspiring to commit fraud by misrepresentation and false accounting.

Judge Andrew Bright QC was told how Yaxley-Lennon loans totaling £40,000 to Vowles and later Moore to help them with the deposits for a property in Luton.

But he also introduced them to crooked mortgage broke Deborah Rothschild who specialised in helping people obtain a mortgage who wouldn’t normally be eligible because of insufficient income and capital.

Rothschild the mother of a two year-old son assisted Moore, Vowles and Darcy in their fraudulent applications by providing phoney pay slips and income details.

The fraudulent mortgages she obtain came to a total of £640,000.

She was jailed for 18 months, Vowles was jailed for 27 months and Darcy was given a 15 month sentence suspended for 18 months and told she must carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

Moore was given a six month prison sentence suspended for 18 months and told she must carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and pay costs of £1,500.

Luton on Sunday

Melrose Arms, Office Row, Front Street, Shotton Colliery. There are proposals for it to become as Muslim education centre.

A MEMBER of a far-right group nailed a copy of the Koran onto a pub which is due to be transformed into a Muslim education centre.

Graham French also wrote “EDL” on the wall of former Melrose Arms in Shotton Colliery – which has been the centre of demonstrations by the English Defence League in the village, after planning permission to change the use of the building was granted.

Since buying the property, local businessman Kaiser Javeed Choudry has been a repeat victim of crime, Peterlee Magistrates’ Court heard.

Prosecutor Vicky Wilson said there had been great opposition to the plans and Mr Choudry’s property had been targeted with spray paint and windows had been smashed.

Ms Wilson said on December 14, EDL had been daubed twice in white paint on the building, causing £500 of damage, and an open Koran had been nailed onto a wooden board covering a window.

She added: “Police took the Koran for forensic analysis and found several links to the defendant, including a palm print on the page.”

She told the court that information on Facebook showed French, of Dene Crescent, Shotton, is a member of a group called the Shotton Defence League.

When French was arrested, he said it was a “revenge attack” after he was followed home from the pub one day by a female wearing a Burka. A statement from Mr Choudry said: “The whole situation has got me upset.

“We are trying to improve the building and make the area better.”

French pleaded guilty to causing racially or religiously-aggravated criminal damage.

Jaxon Taylor, defending, said the damage involved “a small amount of graffiti” and disputed that it could have cost £500 to fix.

The case was adjourned until February 12 for a report to be prepared about French.

Chairman of the bench, David Carr, said: “Not only is the daubing of the words racially aggravated, but the nailing of the Koran to the wall makes it even worse.”

French was bailed on the condition that he does not contact Mr Choudry.

Sunderland Echo

A man has been warned he could face jail for posting a Facebook comment about burning down a mosque in the wake of Lee Rigby’s murder.

Derek Phin, 46, appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on Friday where he pleaded guilty to posting the threatening and abusive remark on the social network last June.

British soldier Lee Rigby was off duty in southeast London when he was attacked and killed on May 22 last year.

Radical groups then tried to exploit the soldier’s murder resulting in attacks and protests against the UK’s muslim community.

Phin, of Aberdeen, admitted posting on Facebook that Edinburgh Central Mosque should be burnt down on July 2 during a counter demo.

The mosque was due to be packed at the time for a meeting organised by pressure group Unite Against Fascism in response to extreme right wing protests.

Fiscal depute David Bernard told the court that police had been tipped off to Phin’s comment which he put online on June 30.

He said: “On July 13 police received information that a comment of a racially motivated nature and thought to incite racial hatred had been posted on Facebook social network site on a page pertaining to the Scottish Defence League.

“One of the comments had been from a user account in the name of Derek Phin and had been posted on June 30, 2013 as part of a conversation about a Unite Against Fascism campaign to be held at an Edinburgh mosque on July 2.

“The comment attributed to Phin read ‘burn the mosque down when the meeting is ongoing’.”

Police confronted Phin at his home in Aberdeen on September 4.

He was taken to a police station where he admitted making the comment and stated he was a member of the Scottish Defence League. He was then cautioned and charged.

Defence agent David Sutherland said the mail-room worker had put the comment on Facebook as he felt that the men who committed Mr Rigby’s murder were being protected by the authorities in the aftermath of the attack.

Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale were found guilty of the fusilier’s murder at the Old Bailey on December 19.

Mr Sutherland said: “The background involves the murder of Lee Rigby.

“This was his reaction to his perception of how the authorities dealt with the murder of Lee Rigby – his reaction to how the people were protected by the authorities for what they had done.

“He accepts that it was an entirely inappropriate comment. He has not used Facebook since he appeared in court.”

Sheriff Annella Cowan deferred sentence for the preparation of reports and released Phin on bail.

She warned him: “You should not use Facebook. You should be putting your affairs in order in case you go to jail. There will be no predeterminations but it is a serious consideration.”

STV

SIOBHAN Melrose and Leigh Cameron blast four-and-a-half-year sentence for James Boyd and reveal they didn’t even get the satisfaction of seeing him being sent down because the court was packed with racist’s family.

BNP member James Boyd poses with a samurai sword

A NEO-NAZI race hate thug was jailed yesterday for a horrific 10-year campaign of violence against women.

But two of James Boyd’s five victims were left furious after being locked out of court as he was being sentenced.

They were forced to stand outside because all the seats were taken by Boyd’s family.

The women also slammed the brute’s four-and-a-half year jail sentence, insisting it should have been much more.

Love rat Boyd, 28 – who has a string of convictions for racist attacks and has been described by police as “a predatory, callous and unremorseful individual” – battered two of his victims when they were heavily pregnant.

He told one she didn’t deserve a child as he booted her in the stomach. Another victim, aged 14, was left with terrible injuries when Boyd, from Whitburn, West Lothian, stamped on her private parts in a bid to make her unable to have kids.

His most recent ex-partner Siobhan Melrose, 26, and Leigh Cameron, 24 – who was pregnant with his child when he tried to strangle her and throw her down the stairs – were unable to sit in the public benches at the High Court in Glasgow because there wasn’t enough room.

Both women, also from Whitburn, described Boyd’s sentence as “disgusting” and insisted he should have got at least eight years for putting them through years of hell.

Leigh said: “I hope he rots in hell for what he did to us. He will always be a danger to women but to think he’ll be out in three years makes me sick.

“We hoped watching him being sentenced would give us closure but we were robbed of that because his family were allowed to take up the entire court.

“It’s outrageous. We have made an official complaint.”

Siobhan endured three years of hell before she fled his clutches last year. She added: “We were hoping for at least double that sentence. It’s not even nearly enough for what he did to us.”

But the victim who was in her teens when she was viciously attacked by Boyd said: “This is a great result for us. Months ago he was walking about the streets telling everyone he was innocent and we had all made it up.”

The girl – who was battered, kicked and spat on by BNP and National Front activist Boyd in a series of attacks between 2004 and 2006 – added: “He has been exposed for what he is – an evil predator who beats up wee girls and I’m happy with that.”

Racist thug James Boyd poses with a Nazi flag

Sentencing him, Judge Lord Turnbull said: “You have pleaded guilty to a catalogue of violence against women.

Over a 10-year period, you displayed bullying and domineering behaviour. You have deep-rooted problems in your attitude to women.

“I’m satisfied that in the past you posed a danger to women and unless you change your attitude, you will continue to be a danger to women in the future.”

Boyd was also ordered to be monitored in the community for two years after his release.

Earlier this month, the Record exposed cowardly Boyd’s obsession with Adolf Hitler and showed him pictured brandishing a swastika flag.

In another snap, he posed with a samurai sword with Combat 18 – the neo-Nazi organisation – tattooed on his arm. He also has a skull and crossbones tattooed on the back of his shaven head.

Daily Record

He went out to protest on the streets of the Black Country, his face covered with a mask bearing the cross of St George, before hurling missiles towards police.

But today father-of-two and English Defence League supporter Gareth Ballan was starting a 27-month sentence behind bars.

Ballan wore the mask as he joined hundreds of others for the English Defence League rally in Walsall town centre.

As scenes turned ugly he was seen to throw two missiles, one a drinks can and the other an unconfirmed object, which may have been a brick, towards a police line.

He was later seen standing at the front of a crowd of EDL supporters with his arms raised in the air, chanting and encouraging the crowd by pointing towards the police line.

At Wolverhampton Crown Court, sitting in Birmingham yesterday, he was sentenced to 27 months for violent disorder relating to the events of September 29, 2012.

Mr Howard Searle, prosecuting, said that although there was no evidence of the 28-year-old kicking or punching there had been two objects thrown.

Mr Harry Lally, defending, said bricklayer Ballan, of Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, was remorseful and at the time had personal issues.

He added: “It is out of character. He travelled of course from the North East to Walsall and he fully accepts what he did do that wholly out of order.”

More than 30 men were sentenced at Crown Court in December but the case of Ballan had been adjourned for the preparation of a pre-sentence report. He had initially denied the offence but pleaded guilty on the day of the trial.

Judge Mr Nicholas Webb, said: “During this disorder you were provocative and on two occasions threw a missile.”

Scenes in Walsall on the say of the rally were described as an ‘orgy of violence’ as yobs threw wood and bricks towards police. Thugs were also spotted overturning and dismantling a table to use its legs as weapons.

Police carried out a year-long investigation to bring those responsible to justice and 31 men had already been sentenced for more than 55 years. Officers spent almost 500 hours working on the case to track down those involved.

Express & Star

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

A MEMBER of a far-right group nailed a copy of the Koran to a proposed Muslim education centre.

Graham French, 28, also sprayed EDL, which stands for English Defence League, on the former Melrose Arms in Shotton Colliery, in December.

It was after planning permission for a change of use, which has caused controversy, was granted.

French, of Dene Crescent, Shotton Colliery, admitted racial or religious aggravated criminal damage to the wall of a multi-faith centre.

He was given a community order with six months supervision at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court plus a one-month tagged curfew between 10.30pm and 7am.

Sunderland Echo

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

A gang launched a “completely and utterly disgraceful” racist attack on staff at a Cambridge restaurant in the wake of the Lee Rigby murder.

Mai Thai restaurant, Hobbs Pavilion, Park Terrace, Cambridge: Picture Keith Heppell

The five friends – three of whom have been locked up – chased and assaulted staff, threw glass bottles and bins and hurled racial abuse outside the Mai Thai restaurant by Parker’s Piece as they chanted “EDL”.

They goaded two brothers into coming outside before attacking them while shouting racist abuse on June 6 last year, a few days after the brutal murder of Fusilier Rigby in Woolwich.

The manager of the restaurant, who did not want to be named, told the News after the Cambridge Crown Court sentencing they attacked Muslim and Thai workers – and then turned on some of the 20 or so police officers who arrived on the scene.

He said: “It was very nasty. They attacked staff for no reason who were trying to get on with their work and shouted racial abuse, which was completely and utterly disgraceful.

“I’m glad they have been given these sentences. These are thugs who have got nothing better to do and hopefully this will teach them a lesson that it’s not something they can get away with.”

Marti Blair, prosecuting, said the offence started when one of the group tapped on the window of the restaurant and made aggressive gestures to staff as they were clearing up.

She said: “A member of staff thought it could be some sort of hate race incident and he called police, which was reasonable given the Lee Rigby killing had only just taken place a couple of weeks earlier and there had followed a number of race hate attacks at that time.”

She described how some of the gang started pushing two members of staff, leaving the brothers with damaged ribs and ripped shirts.

They then threw glass bottles and bins at the door while chanting the far right group’s name and demanding they “go home”.

She said: “All of the witnesses describe how the group were chanting EDL and saying things like ‘go back to your country’.”

Joshua Collinson-Prime, 19, formerly of Victoria Road, Arbury, William Jacey, 21, of Brampton Road, Royston, and a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, all admitted violent disorder.

Leon Jackson, 24, and Daniel Mooney, 20, both of Gonville Place, Trumpington, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of racially aggravated threatening behaviour.

Jacey was jailed for a year, Collinson-Prime was sent to a youth offenders’ institution for a year and the youth was given a one-year detention and training order.

Jackson and Mooney were each given eight-month jail sentences suspended for two years and must do 200 hours of unpaid work. The young group have nearly 40 previous convictions between them.

Judge Gareth Hawkesworth, sentencing at Cambridge Crown Court, described it as a “thoroughly unpleasant racist attack” and added: “It will simply not be tolerated.”

One of the victims said in a statement read out in court that he was still scared for his safety.

He said: “These people know where I work and clearly have an issue with me and the colour of my skin and this is not an issue that is going to go away.”

Cambridge News

Derek Phin

An Aberdeen man who posted a Facebook comment about burning down a mosque in the wake of Lee Rigby’s murder has been jailed.

Derek Phin, 46, admitted posting the threatening and abusive remark about Edinburgh Central Mosque on the social networking site in June last year

British soldier Lee Rigby was attacked and killed in London in May.

At Aberdeen Sheriff Court, Sheriff Annella Cowan jailed Phin for 12 months.

Police had confronted Phin at his home after receiving a tip-off about the comment.

He later stated to officers that he was a member of the Scottish Defence League.

Phin admitted during a previous court appearance posting a threatening and abusive remark with religious prejudice.

Defence agent David Sutherland said: “My client accepts it was unacceptable and inexcusable.”

Sheriff Cowan said: “Justice in this country is measured and considered.

“Everyone in this country is entitled to the same freedoms and protections.

“You have abused what you think is your right to free speech to threaten the safety of innocent people in their place of worship because of your mistaken understanding of what they or their co-religionists stand for.

“Nothing other than a prison sentence is appropriate.”

Earlier this week, Michael Adebolajo was given a whole-life term and Michael Adebowale was jailed for a minimum of 45 years for Lee Rigby’s murder outside Woolwich barracks in south-east London.

They drove a car into Fusilier Rigby at 30-40mph, before dragging him into the road and attacking him with knives and attempting to decapitate him with a meat cleaver.

BBC News

FOOTBALL hooligan Jeff Marsh has been banned from football grounds for five years after admitting affray.

The 44-year-old Cardiff City supporter was found in possession of a knuckleduster when he was arrested for affray outside the Ninian Park pub in Canton, Cardiff, last June.

The self-proclaimed hooligan, who has written two books about his exploits with the city’s infamous Soul Crew and is one of the organisers of the Welsh Defence League, was fighting with Celtic fans after the inaugural match between the teams at Cardiff’s new stadium.

Marsh, from Barry, admitted affray and possession of an offensive weapon at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court in January and was sentenced yesterday.

He was given a four-month suspended jail term, 150 hours’ community service and ordered to pay £600 costs.

He was given a full five-year football banning order that will prevent him attending any football matches for five years.

Detective Constable Simon Chivers, of the Football Intelligence Unit, who arrested Marsh last summer, said: “Jeff Marsh is a convicted football hooligan.

“Behaviour such as he exhibited on the night will not be tolerated by Cardiff City or the police and anyone indulging in that sort of behaviour will be pursued to the fullest extent of the law, prosecuted and banned.”

It is Marsh’s first football banning order as his previous convictions for football violence came before the 1990 Football Disorder Act which introduced the banning orders.

In 1989 he was convicted of grievous bodily harm for stabbing two Manchester United supporters in Cardiff and was jailed for two years. In 1986 he was also convicted of a football-related assault in Halifax.

Marsh is an organiser of the English and Welsh Defence Leagues which describe themselves as “a ready-made army” against Muslim fundamentalists.

There have been riots and arrests in English cities, including Birmingham and Luton, which have led to scores of arrests after the group has clashed with anti-fascist campaigners. There have also been marches in Wrexham and Swansea.

The groups have been described as “divisive” and “hate-based” by Plaid Cymru AM Leanne Wood.

Wales Online

From 2010

A soldier has been called a “disgrace” for posting offensive Facebook messages over the death of a three-year-old boy.

Warren Butler, 19, from Carlisle, was handed a 16-week sentence, suspended for 18 months and ordered to complete 250 hours community service.

Mikaeel Kular was found dead in Fife in January, after he was reported missing.

Grenadier Guard Butler, who is based at Aldershot barracks, Hampshire, admitted improper use of a communications network at an earlier hearing.

Basingstoke Magistrates heard Butler had been brought up in a “racist” family background.

‘Great disgrace’

He had been to several English Defence League (EDL) marches and had “liked” EDL and British National Party (BNP) pages on Facebook.

Within five minutes of him sending the message about Mikaeel Kular, it went viral.

Warren Butler received death threats after posting the offensive message

Butler and several relatives received death threats.

District judge Phillip Gillibrand said: “People were appalled at seeing this sort of prejudice.

“It was cruel, disrespectful, and completely unjustified. You have much growing up to do.

“To post this Facebook entry with you standing there in full ceremonial uniform was a great disgrace, and brought the army into disrepute.”

Butler’s commanding officer, Capt James Stafford Allen told the court prior to the incident he had a “clean slate” in the army and was following a promising career.

Since his arrest, Butler has been kept “in camp” and not allowed to leave the army barracks for eight weeks.

He has had his mobile phone taken away and internet access withdrawn.

Capt Allen said the army was still to decide what disciplinary action to take.

Butler must also pay £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

Mikaeel Kular’s mother Rosdeep Kular, 33, has been charged with his murder.

BBC News

A man kicked his pregnant girlfriend in the stomach during a brutal attack after he returned home from a far-right Scottish Defence League march.

James Mullen rounded on a Polish neighbour who tried to stop the assault and told him: “F*** off back to your own country” before threatening to stab him.

Mullen squeezed Christine McLeod’s throat with his bare hands during the attack and at one stage she curled up trying to protect her stomach as he repeatedly kicked her.

When police arrived Mullen, who was 19 at the time, told them: “I went too far, I only wanted to propose to her.”

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that Mullen also injured a 10-year-old girl during his violent outburst and lashed out at officers and said to one that he would “stab him”.

After Mullen, now 20, of Holyrood Court, admitted a string of offences his counsel, Gareth Jones, asked for his bail to be continued ahead of sentencing.

But Lord Bannatyne remanded him in custody. The judge said: “Having regard to the charges it is inappropriate bail is continued.”

Unemployed Mullen pled guilty to assaulting Ms McLeod, 30, to the danger of her life on July 6 last year at a flat and stairwell in Kirk Street in Leith.

During the attack he forced the pregnant woman to the ground and straddled her and compressed her throat. He struck her head off walls and on the ground and repeatedly punched and kicked her.

He also admitted assaulting the girl by repeatedly slamming a door on her arm and assaulting Slawomir Slawinski by threatening him with violence, saying he would stab him.

Mullen also admitted acting in a racially aggravated way and resisting police.

Advocate depute Richard Goddard said Mullen had moved into the flat at Kirk Street the day before the attack, having been in a relationship with Ms McLeod, who was six weeks pregnant with his child, for several months.

The prosecutor said: “On the morning of Saturday July 6 2013 the accused left the flat to attend a Scottish Defence League march in Aberdeen. During the day he appears to have consumed a large amount of alcohol.”

Mullen later told police he had been drinking Buckfast wine, beer and vodka all day since leaving for Aberdeen and fell asleep on the bus journey back and this had put him in a bad mood.

When he returned home Ms McLeod noted he appeared to be very drunk. They had been due to go to a party but she told him he was not to attend.

Mr Goddard said: “On being told this the accused became annoyed and began shouting aggressively at Ms McLeod suggesting that she was embarrassed by him.”

She went to a bedroom to collect keys, but he followed her and grabbed her by the throat and forced her to the floor and began squeezing her throat as she struggled to free herself.

“The victim reports the grasp felt like a lot of pressure and she began to struggle to breathe,” said Mr Goddard. She heard Mullen shout: “You are not going anywhere.”

Mullen suddenly released his grip and said he needed to get an ambulance. The victim managed to get up and went to the front door but he started shouting and screaming at her again.

The girl had heard cries for help and was starting to go into the flat, but Mullen slammed the door against her arm until she withdrew it.

Mullen began punching Ms McLeod and pushed her against a wall in the hallway. She fell to the floor and he began to kick her on the head and side.

Mr Goddard said: “The victim thinks this went on for a number of minutes as she curled up to try to protect, in particular, her stomach. She could heard children outside the flat screaming.”

The woman managed to get out into the close, but Mullen continued the assault punching her on the head and kicking her in the stomach. The victim managed to get out of the flats after Mr Slawinski’s intervention.

Neighbours called the police and when officers arrived Mullen said: “You’re looking for me. I went too far, I only wanted to propose to her.”

The advocate depute said: “Despite his initial calm appearance the accused then became aggressive towards the officers and began to lash out by attempting to kick them, butt them with his head and punch them.”

During an interview Mullen told police that he believed the relationship was on good terms and that the couple did not really argue, but when they did sometimes “a switch just turns” and he became really angry. He acknowledged Ms McLeod was pregnant with his child.

He said before police turned up he returned to the flat and saw blood over the walls and said to himself: “What have I done?”

The first offender claimed that he never intentionally hurt anyone and stated he felt like “a dick”.

Lord Bannatye deferred sentence on Mullen for the preparation of a background report.

The Scotsman

MAGISTRATES praised a female special constable who stood up to a drunken gang in a Darwen park.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Special Constable Nicola Veitch was attacked by one of the mob who ripped off her epaulettes and tie and smashed her torch as drunken teenagers and 53-year-old Anthony Vickers egged him on.

Vickers and other members of the gang ran off into Sunnyhurst Wood but he returned and was identified by SPC Veitch and arrested by her after a struggle. Vickers was jailed and the magistrates singled out SPC Veitch for special praise.

“We want to express our admiration for the way Special Constable Veitch conducted herself in difficult circumstances. She was facing a drunken group that were egging on this offender and we would like to recommend this information be placed on her record,” they said.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said the special was on foot patrol in Sunnyhurst Wood when she and another female officer were confronted by a large group of noisy youths who were drinking. Vickers was among the group of mainly teenagers and he was clearly drunk. He began calling the officers offensive names.

Vickers ran off but returned and SPC Veitch went to arrest him again.

Vickers kicked PC Roger Morris three times. Jonathan Taylor, defending, said: “He apologises and knows he should have shown far more respect.”

Vickers, of Bolton Road, Blackburn, was jailed for eight weeks for the assault on SPC Veitch and four weeks for the assault on PC Morris.

Lancashire Telegraph

From 16th October 2008.