An English Defence League protester who punched a policeman during last weekend’s banned demo in east London has been jailed for five months.

Darrell Copeland, 44, charged a line of police and smashed Sergeant James Lloyd in the face as the officers struggled to control demonstrators from the far-Right group.

Copeland, who had been drinking, struggled violently as he was arrested, headbutting a window, threatening to do the same to police and shouting anti-Muslim abuse, City of Westminster magistrates’ court was told.

He was held in custody after Saturday’s protest until his court appearance, when he admitted assault. District Judge Daphne Wickham heard that Copeland, from Milton Keynes, had previously been jailed for racist abuse.

Victoria Forbes, prosecuting, said he had joined EDL demonstrators at Aldgate station, where they chanted: “Let’s go f**king mental,” as officers tried to control the crowd.

He claimed he had come to London to visit his mother, not specifically to take part in the demonstration.

Evening Standard

From 6/9/11

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

DAMAGED … the Jami-Masjid mosque on Chester Road.

A RACIST thug has been fined for damaging a mosque after a far-right rally in Sunderland.

Connor McIntosh launched the attack on the Jami Masjid mosque in Chester Road, Sunderland, drunkenly kicking a drainpipe.

The 19-year-old had been at a demo over proposals for a new mosque in Millfield on March 30.

He was arrested after being captured on CCTV lashing out at the building.

Sunderland magistrates were told how he ranted about Islam and bragged about being a member of the EDL during his interview with police.

He pleaded guilty to causing racially-aggravated criminal damage.

Penny Bottomley, prosecuting, said McIntosh, an unemployed scrapman, was so drunk at first that he did not know why he had been arrested.

She said: “The defendant, when he was interviewed, was asked why he had been detained.

“He thought it was because he was too drunk, but then said there were too many mosques and they (Muslims) were grooming our kids.

“He said he had a child on the way and he did not want his child getting involved in all of that.

“Then he said the police should stop them burning our poppies.

“He confirmed he was a member of the EDL, and he was the male on the CCTV, and had ripped the pipe off the building himself.”

Jason Smith, defending, said father-to-be McIntosh, of Heathgate, Houghton-le-Spring, had never been in trouble before.

He said: “Usually, this is a matter that should have been dealt with by way of a caution.

“I accept the reason why it was not is because of the nature of the allegation, and because of his involvement with the EDL.”

Mr Smith told magistrates that the protest McIntosh had been to was organised with the “understanding” of the police and that McIntosh had the right to air his views.

He added: “Unfortunately, he had a bit too much to drink, and at the end of the march he caused damage to the drainpipe, then he walked away.

“He did not cause any more damage and he did not shout and swear or abuse anyone.”

McIntosh was fined £110 and ordered to pay £100 compensation to the mosque, along with £85 court costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Shields Gazette

A man who kicked his pregnant girlfriend in the stomach after he returned home from a far-right Scottish Defence League march has been jailed for more than four years.

James Mullen said he “only wanted to propose” to Christine McLeod but ended up squeezing her throat and repeatedly kicking her in the stomach.

He also injured a ten-year-old girl and lashed out at officers and said to one that he would “stab him”.

Mullen turned on a Polish neighbour who tried to stop the attack and told him to “f*** off back to your own country” before threatening to stab him.

When police arrived Mullen told them: “I went too far, I only wanted to propose to her.”

At the High Court in Aberdeen on Tuesday, Mullen was jailed for four years and four months in prison.

The 20-year-old previously pleaded 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, 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 ten-year-old 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.

Mr Goddard said: “The victim reports the grasp felt like a lot of pressure and she began to struggle to breathe.”

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 child 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 hear 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

Scottish TV

A TEENAGE woman and a man have been found guilty of throwing bacon into Central Mosque and wrapping it round the door handles.

Chelsea Lambie, 18, from Paisley, and 38-year-old Douglas Cruikshank from Galashiels carried out the early morning attack in January last year.

Cruikshank originally denied the charge, but changed his plea after the Crown dropped its claim that the offence was racially aggravated.

A jury took just over an hour to return a majority verdict of guilty on Lambie.

She was found guilty of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause fear and alarm.

Sentence was deferred until May 23.

Edinburgh Evening News

Lambie also has a conviction for this a couple of years ago.
http://edlcriminals.com/2013/07/19/ned-fined-for-racist-outburst/

Lee Cousins

ONE football fan has been jailed and four others involved in trouble at the Bristol derby given suspended prison sentences.

Footage of ugly scenes in and around Ashton Gate stadium on the night of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy match between City and Rovers last September was shown to a judge at Bristol Crown Court as the five men were sentenced after all pleading guilty to a violent disorder charge.

They were: James Bagnall, 25, of Shickle Grove, Bath; Lee Cousins, 41, of Soundwell Road, Kingswood; Thomas Burke, 21, of Bredon, Yate; Alexander Parsons, 21, of Walnut Close, Coalpit Heath; Jordan Lloyd, 22, of Filton Avenue, Filton.

Sam Jones, prosecuting, said yesterday: “The violence and public disorder on display that evening was among the worst that the Avon and Somerset Constabulary have ever had to police.”

He said provocation started before the match, when City fans congregated at the Miner’s Arms pub in Bedminster and Rovers fans used the Cross Hands pub, a short distance away, with trouble erupting before kick-off on Trafalgar Terrace, close to Ashton Gate.

Inside the stadium there was further trouble when rival fans infiltrated each other’s seating areas, missiles were thrown and the pitch invaded.

After the game there was large-scale disorder in Winterstoke Road.

The judge was guided through CCTV clips highlighting each defendant’s involvement.

Bagnall was filmed using and threatening unlawful violence in a car park before the game, as well as kicking a woman police officer as she was hit in the face by another fan. He was also shown ripping out a seat in the stadium and throwing it into City fans who had invaded the pitch.

Cousins, who was said to be on the police radar as a member of a risk group, was captured on film opening an emergency gate in the stadium, which contributed to a crowd surge.

Burke was filmed in the Wedlock Stand, involving himself in disorder.

Parsons was filmed verbally abusing police before the game and pushing police in the stadium.

Lloyd told a police officer where he could shove his camera, the court heard, and was filmed pushing other fans and police in the stadium.

Mitigating, Thomas Horder said of stonemason and sportsman Bagnall: “He describes his own behaviour as appalling. He wishes to express profound remorse and apologies to the woman police officer.”

He added that Cousins was also ashamed of what he had done.

Alison Gurden, for Burke and Parsons, said “very embarrassed” Burke was a youth football coach who admitted pushing and shoving.

She said of Parsons, a Rovers fan from the age of three: “He feels he has let himself down and he’s let his family down.”

Darren Burleigh, defending Lloyd, said his client kicked out towards police some distance away.

Judge Graham Hume Jones jailed Bagnall for two-and-a-half years, with a six-year Football Banning Order (FBO). Cousins was given a two-year suspended sentence, a five year FBO and told to do 300 hours’ unpaid work. Burke received a 15-month suspended sentence, with 200 hours’ unpaid work and a three-year FBO.

Parsons received a 16-month suspended sentence, with 200 hours’ unpaid work and a three-year FBO.

Lloyd received an 18-month suspended sentence with 200 hours’ unpaid work and a three-year FBO.

The judge told the men: “There was overall violent disorder to decent football fans, the elderly, young, very young and the disabled, and to the police trying to do their job of protecting the public and keeping the peace.”

Bristol Post

Lee Cousins is an active supporter of the English Defence League and was found guilty of racially/religiously aggravated harassment last year. You can read more here

Men were arrested after police turned up to deal with fights which broke out in Bridge Street

Six men have appeared in court following an incident in which English Defence League supporters were involved in violence outside a Nuneaton town centre pub.

The men were arrested after police turned up to deal with fights which broke out in Bridge Street, Nuneaton, and in the doorway of the George Eliot pub.

Noting at the crown court in Leamington that the incident had taken place as long ago as February 2011, Judge Sylvia de Bertodano asked why it had taken so long to get to court.

Prosecutor Aliya Rashid explained that the police had been searching for witnesses and trying to track down other people who had been involved.

At the court, five men from Nuneaton, Tamworth and Rugeley, Staffordshire, pleaded guilty to a charge of violent disorder.

They were Daniel Edkins, 31, of Marston Lane, Nuneaton; Stephen Ginelly,51, of Franklin Court, Nuneaton; John Horton, 43, of Johnson Close, Rugeley; Neil Grant,45, of Stoneleigh Court, Coton Road, Nuneaton; and Christopher Tully,26, of Cadogan Road, Dosthill, Tamworth.

But Douglas Tully, 44, also of Cadogan Road, Dosthill, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

His barrister Jane Sarginson explained that he would admit a public order offence, but denied using any unlawful violence during the incident.

Mrs Rashid said that was not accepted by the prosecution, commenting that he was the brother of ‘one of the main defendants’ when the EDL group had approached the pub.

So his case was adjourned for trial, which is expected to take place in July, and he was granted bail.

And of Christopher Tully’s ‘basis of plea’ that he had not been looking for trouble, she told the judge: “That is not accepted by the Crown. He stopped and put gloves on and a banner round his face before going to the pub.”

In January this year Ginnelly had been jailed for six months for his part in football-related violence outside the Granby pub in Nuneaton in March last year.

Asking for an addendum to a pre-sentence report prepared for that hearing, his barrister Kevin Saunders said he wanted it to consider the effect the sentence, which he has now served, has had on Ginnelly.

Judge de Bertodano agreed, and also ordered pre-sentence reports on the other four men who had pleaded guilty.

They were all granted bail, but the judge warned: “They are to be under no illusions that, despite the lapse of time, custodial sentences must be at the forefront of the court’s mind.”

Coventry Telegraph

Pub landlord threatened with arson if he handed over CCTV footage to police

Riot police outside the Granby pub in Nuneaton

A judge heard that one of the men threatened to burn down the Granby pub if its landlord handed over CCTV footage of trouble inside the premises.

Others were caught on camera outside the pub throwing glasses at the police line.

Appearing at the court in a series of hearings were Stephen Ginnelly, Jack Williamson, Ryan Palmer, Nicholas Ginnelly, Andrew Gadsby, Jamie Cheshire and Jack Paul, who had all pleaded guilty to charges of violent disorder.

Stephen Ginnelly, 51, of Franklin Court, Nuneaton, was jailed for six months; Williamson, 23, of Chancery Lane, Nuneaton, for 11 months; and Ryan Palmer, 37, of Keenan Drive, Bedworth for 15 months.

Nicholas Ginnelly, 38, of Coronation Court, Nuneaton, who also admitted an offence of affray for which he was on bail at the time, was jailed for a total of 21 months.

Prosecutor Theresa Thorp had said Lincoln fans had gathered in two pubs nearby as officers were deployed to try to ‘kettle’ about 100 Nuneaton supporters outside the Granby.

Glasses were thrown, and gestures and threats were made to police officers and towards the Lincoln fans.

The mob burst into the pub, and as officers used riot shields to keep them inside, chairs and glasses were thrown at them.

Miss Thorp said that during the incident outside the pub Stephen Ginnelly threw a part-full plastic glass which struck a police officer.

Thomas Lawal, for Ginnelly, had gone to the pub for a birthday party and had thrown the glass out of ‘utter frustration’ at not being allowed to leave when he tried to do so.

Williamson was seen on CCTV gesticulating at the police or Lincoln fans to ‘come on,’ and threw a pint glass.

He then began inciting the rest of the crowd by chanting: “If you hate Old Bill clap your hands.”

Then as the mob forced their way into the pub, he struggled with the landlord who was trying to stop them, and then threw an object at police officers in the doorway.

Judge Alan Parker told Williamson: “One of the disturbing features is that, like you, many of the defendants who became involved in the violence were men who hitherto had led impeccable lives.”

Miss Thorp said Palmer had entered his plea on the basis that after the police had surrounded the Granby, he had asked to leave because he had arranged to pick up his child.

After his request was refused, he became abusive and kicked an officer’s riot shield, and then inside the pub he threw chairs and other objects to officers who had their shields up at the open window to prevent people climbing out.

His barrister told the court Palmer was ‘‘extremely embarrassed and ashamed’’.

Miss Thorp said that outside the pub Nicholas Ginnelly threw two plastic glasses of beer at the police, and once inside he threw two chairs and a plant pot at officers by the window.

He was among a group who began to help themselves to beer from behind the bar and he threatened the licensee that if he handed over the pub’s CCTV footage to the police he would burn the pub down.

Miss Thorp pointed out that at the time Nicholas Ginnelly was on bail for his part in an affray at another pub, for which the judge jailed him for three months consecutive to 18 months for his part in the violent disorder.

She said Gadsby had thrown a glass while in the middle of the mob outside the pub, although his barrister Ian Speed said it was actually a plastic bottle.

Gadsby, 25, of Higham Lane, Nuneaton, was jailed for six months.

Cheshire, 22, of Meadow Street, Nuneaton, was also jailed for six months. He was caught on CCTV walking round with a pint glass before throwing it and then running towards the police line with his arms outstretched and shouting ‘charge.’

Paul, 18, of Morwood Crescent, Nuneaton, was sentenced to 18 weeks detention after he had been seen standing on a bench and making obscene gestures towards the Lincoln fans before throwing a glass.

Coventry Telegraph

The EDL Supporter in this article is Stephen Ginnelly who was convicted of EDL related violent disorder in this incident

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

July 2013 demonstration saw clashes between EDL supporters, anti-fascist protesters and police

It was a day drenched in blood which saw Broad Street and Centenary Square ring-fenced by legions of riot police.

Windows were smashed, cobbles torn up and fences around the unfinished Library Of Birmingham were demolished.

Now 16 men have pleaded guilty to committing violent disorder at the height of a 2,000-strong English Defence League rally last July.

All of the men, from the West Midlands and other parts of the country, appeared at Birmingham Crown Court.

Each faced a charge of violent disorder stemming from the July 20 demonstration, in which it was said they had threatened unlawful violence.

The charge stated they had acted in a group where their conduct would make others fear for their safety.

All 16 spoke only to confirm their names and to enter their guilty pleas.

His Honour Judge Murray Creed adjourned their cases for sentencing to a later date.

The demonstration against radical Islam brought fear to the city streets, as coaches ferried about 2,000 EDL supporters to Broad Street.

A 300-strong counter demonstration by Unite Against Fascism and other rival groups was held in nearby Chamberlain Square.

In total 47 people have since been charged by West Midlands Police for offences relating to the protests.

Some were arrested following high-profile appeals on the BBC Crimewatch programme in January.

At the time Detective Chief Inspector Simon Wallis, from the Force Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We want to make it clear that regardless of how many months have passed we are still continuing to identify and arrest people involved in violent scenes at last summer’s protests.

“Anyone who brings violence to our streets will be pursued by police, particularly if they cause significant harm to others or damage to property.”

On the day of the disorder, EDL supporters arrived in the city and gathered at Broad Street’s Bar Risa.

Fuelled by drink, they marched to Centenary Square where then leader Tommy Robinson delivered a speech in the shadow of the ICC and Symphony Hall.

It was during the speeches that violence flared between EDL supporters and cops clad in full riot gear.

At one point a portable toilet, set up for the protesters, was tipped over while fences around the new library were torn down.

As flash points moved from one side of the square to the other, missiles were thrown at cops including bottles, and cobble stones.

It was estimated around £6,000 of damage was caused to a sign at the entrance to the Hyatt Hotel, as demonstrators again clashed with police.

One policeman suffered concussion during scuffles while other demonstrators were left bloodied by missiles amid clashes with the police.

DCI Wallis added in an earlier appeal: “In one incident alone £150,000 worth of damage was caused to an office block in the city centre and violent protesters used items from the nearby construction site of the new Birmingham Library as missiles or weapons to cause damage.”

Those who pleaded guilty at court on Wednesday were:

Josh Norrey, 22, of Priors Way, Birmingham;

Adam Beebee, 27, of Boundary Road, Birmingham;

Allan Fisher-Cribb, 19, of Wheeler Street, Newtown, Birmingham;

Mark Connor, 24, from Wood Lane, Streetly, Birmingham;

James Cocks, 34, of Binton Close, Redditch, Worcestershire;

Ashley Rowland , 24, from Adwick Road, Nesborough, Barnsley;

Neil Jones, 44, from Meadow Farm Drive, Shrewsbury;

Melvyn Parker, 46, from Newtondale Ave, Mansfield;

Dean Kenney, 41, from Bannister Green Villas, Felsted, Essex;

William Bartlett, 25, from Hotspur Ave, Whitley Bay;

Kenny Graham, 19, from Ottawa Road, Middlesbrough;

Joel Smith, 23, of Lupton Road, Sheffield;

Jake Hill, 21, of Mill Street, Brierley Hill;

Mark Morgan, 24, of Wedgwood Street, Newcastle Under Lyme;

Lloyd Lewis, 22, of Cooks Close, Atherstone;

Thomas Milner, 21, of Greenwell Street, Darlington.

Birmingham Mail

A teenage girl and 39-year old man, who desecrated a mosque by attacking it with strips of bacon, have both been given custodial sentences.

Eighteen-year old Chelsea Lambie from Paisley and Douglas Cruikshank from Galashiels, were told by Sheriff Alistair Noble, sitting in Edinburgh: “It does not seem to me there is any way to deal with this case other than by custody”.

In April of this year, the pair had denied behaving in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause fear and alarm in the early hours of January 31 last year, when along with another person, they wrapped bacon around the main door handles of the Central Mosque in Edinburgh’s Potterrow and threw bacon into the premises. The Crown claimed the offence was racially aggravated.

During the five day trial, a security guard at the mosque, 34-year old Usman Mahmood, told the jury of eight women and seven men: “I was surprised if a person did it for a joke. It is against our culture and religion. We do not eat pork or even touch it. I felt very bad seeing this meat in my sacred place. It hurt my feelings when I saw this meat hanging inside the mosque in the worshipping area. It was very disturbing”. He added that the situation could have been “much worse” if there had been more people in the mosque. There was only one man in the prayer room at the time.

On the final day of evidence, after representations by defence lawyers, Sheriff Alastair Noble deleted the racial aggravation from the indictment and Cruikshank pled guilty to the amended indictment. Lambie continued to deny the charge.

The jury saw CCTV footage from a Tesco store in Dalkeith, Scot-Mid in Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, a short distance from the mosque and the outside and inside of the mosque. All three showed two men and a woman. At the Tesco store at 4.45 am on January 31, the woman asked an assistant if she knew where to get the bus for the mosque in Edinburgh as she had to be there for 7.30.

At Scot-Mid, the two men and woman came into the store at 5.55 am and bought two packets of bacon. A short time later the same trio, all hooded, arrived at the mosque. Bacon was placed around the door handles and as the woman took a picture of the men on her mobile phone, they turned to face her. Bacon was removed from one of the handles and thrown inside onto the glass partition. The three then ran away laughing and were caught on CCTV. Police officers later identified Lambie, Cruikshank and the third person as Wayne Stilwel.

When Lambie was arrested at her boyfriend’s home in Gorebridge on January 31, a Blackberry mobile phone was found in her clothing. Messages sent on January 31 included: “Going to invade a mosque, because we can go where we want”. A message to the phone asked: “What you do last night?” and the reply: “Went to the mosque in Edinburgh and wrapped bacon round the door handles, opened the door and threw it in ha ha ha”. Google searches on the phone were for the location of the mosque, addresses for taxis in Gorebridge and Dalkeith and at 14.59 on January 31: “Edinburgh mosque bacon search”.

In her evidence, Lambie, who had admitted during a police interview to being a member of the Scottish Defence League, denied taking any part in the raid on the mosque. She said she had been in her boyfriend’s house in Gorebridge all the time. As to the picture taken at the mosque and the messages, she told the court there were other people in the house and she left the phone on the living room table. “I let everyone in the house use it. It’s a contract phone, free for everything” she said and added she did not know who had sent the messages.

The jury took just over an hour to return a majority verdict of guilty on Lambie and sentence was deferred for reports on both accused. The third person involved in the attack,Wayne Stilwel from Gorebridge, had pled guilty to a religiously aggravated attack on the mosque on August 27 last year and was sentenced to 10 months.

Defence solicitor, Gordon Ritchie, told Sheriff Noble that his client had become involved in the SDL through close family connections and had gone along with the offence. “She could have said ‘No’” he added. Mr Ritchie said Lambie had now taken steps to distance herself from the organisation by returning to Paisley to live with her partner and young child. He suggested that a Community Payback Order would be appropriate.

Appearing for Cruikshank, Mark Harrower, reminded the Sheriff that his client had offered to plead guilty to the offence in June last year if the racial aggravation was removed, but The Crown had refused this. “As a result of that, matters dragged on. Mr Cruikshank had no option but to proceed to trial because of The Crown’s stance” he said. He added that Cruikshank had been drinking heavily for 48 hours before the raid on the mosque. “He thought his actions were a joke at the time, but has expressed empathy that it was unpleasant for the witnesses at mosque”.

Sentencing Lambie to 12 months detention, Sheriff Noble said he accepted she was a mother with a very young child, but she had continued to deny her guilt for the offence.

He accepted that Cruikshank had tried for many, many months to plead guilty and told him that if he had been found guilty at trial he would have sentenced him to 13 months in prison, but given his plea to the amended charge, he reduced that to nine months.

The Scotsman

Cameron Ward (left) and driver Wayne Payne

Police have released a video clip of killer driver Wayne Payne as he travelled at twice the speed limit – just moments before causing the death of five-year-old Cameron Ward.

Payne, 31, was jailed for five years at Birmingham Crown Court after being found guilty of death by dangerous driving.

His Vauxhall Vectra hit the young boy in Court Lane, Erdington, on April 1 last year, on his way home from a family function with his parents and baby sister.

Dad John Ward was wheeling Paget Primary School pupil Cameron on a pushbike as they returned home from the Easter party with mum Ruby Lawrence and baby sister Ruby.

Jobless Payne was driving at 61 mph in a 30mph zone as his car hit Cameron with the impact of the tragic collision throwing the little boy into the air.

Just before his sentence on Monday, callous Payne taunted Cameron’s grieving relatives before walking away saying: “S**t happens, life goes on.”

As well as being jailed Payne was banned from driving for five years.

Birmingham Mail

PREVIOUS convictions for violence didn’t deter David Knowles, 42, from headbutting and punching his former girlfriend at her flat in Leith, Edinburgh.

Wife beater David Knowles (R) at a Scottish Defence League Rally in Dundee last September

A PROMINENT activist in the far-right Scottish Defence League has been jailed for nine months for beating up a woman.

David “Pod” Knowles, 42, headbutted former girlfriend Suzanne Sime and repeatedly punched her on the head and body.

He had a series of arguments with Suzanne over the phone before the late-night attack at her flat in Leith, Edinburgh.

Knowles, a regular at SDL rallies around Scotland, has previous convictions for violence.

He denied attacking Suzanne, forcing her to go to court to testify against him, but was convicted last week.

Knowles dated Suzanne as a teenager and attacked her after getting back in touch with her through Facebook.

She said: “He’d hit me before. He promised he wouldn’t do it again, then this took place.

“It felt like it lasted for hours but it was probably only 10 to 15 minutes.

“I had bruises all over me, including on my arms as he pinned me down, and he left a scar on my nose. My rib cage was killing me.

“But yet when the case came to court he constantly pled not guilty. The lies he came out with were disgusting. He tried to make out I was paralytic drunk.”

Shop worker Suzanne believes Knowles should have got a longer sentence. She said: “I wish I’d never got involved with him again.

“Initially, I thought, ‘Great, I haven’t seen him for years, I wonder how he’s getting on?’ You only start hearing all the stories after something like this happens.”

She added: “He was always going off to SDL protests. But while the SDL guys say they would never hit a woman, they are just hypocrites.”

Daily Record

Throat cut attacker David Lawler.

A GATECRASHER who seized a party goer in a headlock and slashed his throat with a Stanley knife has been sentenced to a ten year extended prison sentence.

David Lawler, who was branded dangerous and unstable, must serve a seven and a half year jail term before completing two and a half years on closely supervised licence.

He was convicted by a jury of cutting Benjamin Hanslip right across the front of his throat in an unprovoked attack that left the young man with a 12cm gash needing 12 stitches.

Lawler, 31, of Mallard Court, Lower Grange, Bradford, had a troubling history of violence, with convictions for possession of a bladed article, robbery, assault and violent disorder, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday.

The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Roger Thomas QC, ruled that he posed a serious risk to the public after hearing he suffered from depression, anxiety and panic attacks, aggravated by excessive drinking.

Prosecutor David Hall said Lawler turned up uninvited at a flat in Crag Road, Windhill, Shipley, late on September 1, 2012.

He was drinking lager at 2am when he suddenly sprang at Mr Hanslip, grabbed him round the neck and cut his throat with a Stanley knife he seized from a nearby shelf.

Lawler was arrested after he was traced by DNA evidence he left on a lager can.

He denied the offence but was found guilty of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Since the attack, Lawler had served a 13 month jail sentence for violent disorder at an English Defence League demonstration.

He was banned from any EDL gathering after joining with five other men in “sustained, unprovoked racist violence”.

Lawler’s string of convictions began with possession of a butterfly knife when he was a youth.

In 2001, he was locked up for robbery and in 2005 he was cautioned by the police for making a threat to kill his partner.

Judge Thomas said it was “extraordinary” he was let off so lightly for arming himself with a knife while in drink while his partner locked herself in the bedroom.

Lawler’s barrister, Austin Newman, said he was ashamed of what he had done to Mr Hanslip.

“It may be fortuitous but the injury was not the most serious example of its type. So far as we know, no damage was done to the underlying structures to the throat or neck. The victim made a relatively quick and good recovery,” Mr Newman said.

Judge Thomas told Lawler: “You could so easily have killed Benjamin Hanslip. You caused him a superficial wound but what you did was draw a blade right across the front of his throat. It was a very nasty wound indeed on any view of it.”

There was “no rhyme or reason whatsoever” for the attack.

After the case, Detective Constable Paul Maxwell, of Bradford District CID, said: “Lawler’s actions were totally unprovoked and caused his victim to lose a lot of blood. We hope the sentence passed down today will send out a warning to others that violent crime will not be tolerated in West Yorkshire.”

Telegraph & Argus

You can find the report of his previous conviction here

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

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

Cars are cleaned up after the graffiti attacks last November, by Ethan Hesketh

A FATHER-of-one who sprayed racist graffiti in Blackburn has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Ethan Hesketh, 24, covered property in a predominantly Asian area of the town with the letters ‘EDL’ and other offensive language.

The court heard how the defendant, formerly of Blackburn, but now living in Derby Square, Preston, also damaged 11 cars and stonework in Shear Brow and a sign belonging to Abbeydale Vets.

He pleaded guilty to five counts of racially aggravated criminal damage and nine further counts of criminal damage.

Sentencing him to 35 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, Judge Stuart Baker, sitting at Preston Crown Court, said the damage would have caused the victims ‘annoyance and inconvenience’.

He told Hesketh: “You were motivated by some antipathy towards people who are not British.

“You have brought this on yourself.

“These are serious offences because you left so many victims no doubt feeling thoroughly annoyed.”

And the judge asked Hesketh, who claimed he had almost given up drinking alcohol since causing the damage, if he was trying to make a statement by wearing a T shirt with the slogan ‘Let’s Get Smashed’ in court.

Hesketh replied: “I was in a rush this morning.”

As well as the suspended sentence, Hesketh must go back to the court periodically to make sure he is making progress, must attend a thinking skills course and pay £350 prosecution costs.

He will also be electronically tagged with a curfew from 8pm to 6am.

Defending, Amanda Johnson said Hesketh now had a job and was involved in looking after his two-year-old daughter.

She said: “He has no desire at all to go back to Blackburn. He has severed entirely contact with his previous crowd.

“No doubt having now had a couple of months of abstinence from illegal substances and, to a large extent, alcohol, he looks back and can see what were the negative influences in his life.

“He acknowledges that these offences are serious and wishes me to convey his remorse to the court.”

Nicola Riley, of East Park Road, Blackburn, was also charged in connection with the graffiti. No evidence was offered in her case and not guilty verdicts were entered.

This is Lancashire

TWO ‘reckless yobs’ who pushed lit firelighters through the letterboxes of four homes have been jailed.

Simon Cockerill, 26, and Ethan Hesketh, 21, went on the arson spree in Mill Hill, Blackburn, as people were asleep.

Police said the pair, who committed the crimes while ‘fuelled with alcohol’, put lives at risk by their irresponsible behaviour.

They were each jailed for 18 months yesterday after pleading guilty to theft, committing arson recklessly and arson.

Four front doors in Hollin Bridge Street were torched in the early hours of June 23.

Cockerill, of Whalley Road, Clayton-le-Moors and Hesketh, of Hozier Street, Blackburn, were arrested after being captured on CCTV at Lock Mill Service Station, in Bolton Road, Blackburn, before they stole the firelighters used in the attacks.

Police said the arson attacks had been ‘potentially extremely serious’ and it was lucky that no-one had been hurt.

DC Mick Ingram from Blackburn CID said: “Both Cockerill and Hesketh didn’t think about the potential consequences of their actions. They put people’s lives in danger and it was fortunate that no one was seriously injured.

“It was a reckless and irresponsible act which was fuelled by alcohol and I hope this sentence sends out a warning that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated.

“The fires could easily have developed into serious incidents and left people trapped in their homes.”

In Hollin Bridge Street residents hit out at the pair.

Jackie Mullin, 40, said: “They deserve what they got. I think they are sick, or maybe they are just idiots.”

Steven Holland, 40, said: “It is not a very nice thing. They put lives at risk.”

Samantha Brown, 37, said: “It could have caused serious harm. We’ve got to make an example of them.”

Police said that the unique nature of the incident was now used in internal training sessions by the fire service and police in Lancashire to highlight good working practices.

Lancashire Telegraph

This story is from Feb 2012 and relates to Ethan Hesketh who was also convicted of this

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 MAN entered a shop and told its Muslim owner “I’m a racist and I kill Muslims,” on the first anniversary of the death of soldier Lee Rigby.

Daniel Lee Lewis, of Church Street, Wrexham, entered the shop on Chester Street in Flint after midnight on May 23.

He asked the owner where he was from and if he was a Muslim.

The owner replied he was Turkish but had an English passport and told Lewis he was Muslim.

Lewis told the owner: “It’s alright, I won’t cause any trouble. It’s my country, I will do what I want. I’m a racist and I kill Muslims.”

He spat on the shop floor and invited the owner outside for a fight. But the police had been called and he was arrested.

The 32-year-old told police: “It’s one year today to the death of Lee Rigby, there will be thousands of us in Manchester on Saturday,” before chanting EDL [English Defence League] at them.

Appearing at Wrexham Magistrates Court yesterday, Lewis pleaded guilty to using threatening or abusive words or behaviour with intent to cause racially aggravated fear of or provoke unlawful violence.

He also admitted failure to surrender to bail.

Sentencing, district judge Gwyn Jones said the fact Lewis was drunk did not condone using “offensive and appalling language”.

He said: “This was extremely upsetting behaviour. You gratuitously made offensive and racist comments to someone who was serving members of the public.

“It is clear you were very, very drunk but that does not justify using such offensive and appalling language. Taking that into account, it makes this a hate crime, serious enough for a community order and you will pay compensation for the pain you caused the victim.”

Lewis was given an 18 month community order, supervised by probation and the community mental health team.

He was ordered to undertake a 10 day ‘eradicating racism and promoting equality programme’, and pay £200 in compensation.

Victoria Lewis, defending, said Lewis had no recollection of the incident.

She added: “He isn’t a racist, does not hold these views and does not know where they came from. At the time he was influenced by alcohol and his mental health issues.

“His business went under last year and he suffered a nervous breakdown. It was a

one-off and he wants to get back on track.”

In addition he will also pay court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £60.”

Andrew Connah from the probation service said: “He accepts full responsibility but has no memory of the incident.

“He is ashamed, maintains he is not a racist and it upsets him to think he behaved like that.

“He had been drinking heavily, and accepts alcohol is an issue. He had suffered a nervous breakdown and has serious mental health issues. He was sectioned last year and has been signed off until 2016.”

North Wales News