A BRAVE bus passenger who challenged a woman’s drunken, racist rant was attacked and spat on, Newbury magistrates have been told.

Afterwards, fellow Thatcham travellers praised victim Christine Dare’s courageous stand. Miss Dare later told police: “I had to act. It was too much to ignore.”

In the dock on Thursday, July 10, was 35-year-old Tara Elaine King, of Fallows Road, Padworth.

Helen Waite, prosecuting, said Ms King was talking to the bus driver in Thatcham, loudly praising the English Defence League, making racist comments and swearing.
Several passengers were incensed, said Ms Waite, “but it was Ms Dare who had the gumption to do something about it”.

Having vainly asked Ms King to keep her opinions to herself and moderate her language because there was a young child nearby, Ms Dare approached the driver and asked him to act, magistrates were told.

But, said Ms Waite, the driver told her to sit down – and when she did, Ms King approached, leaned over and spat on her.

Ms Dare said later: “I was horrified by her actions. I pushed her away, but she was shouting and came at me again; there was a scuffle and I grabbed her hair.”
Ms Waite said: “Very unedifying CCTV footage shows them hanging on to each other’s heads. The defendant was on top of her in her seat. She grabbed Ms Dare’s face and scratched it.

“The bus pulled into a layby and a man came to Ms Dare’s assistance. Police were called and, as she was led away, she told Ms Dare: ‘Look at my face so I can remember you.’”

Passenger Jodie Conyard said she was offended by Ms King’s racist remarks about Muslims and another, John Young, said he was upset to hear a “drunken” Ms King make derogatory comments about black people.

Both praised Ms Dare and offered to give evidence on her behalf when Ms King initially denied assault by beating.

However she later changed her plea to guilty, while not accepting that she spat on Ms Dare.

Although Ms Waite said the Crown stood by its version of events, the court ruled there was no need for a Newton hearing – a mini trial to establish the facts – because the matter would not make a substantial difference to their sentence.
They therefore agreed to accept Ms King’s basis of plea.

She admitted causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress, both at Bath Road, Thatcham, on November 2 last year. Her previous convictions include a racially-aggravated offence, the court heard.

Ben Henriques, defending, said his client suffers post traumatic stress disorder since losing a child 11 years ago.

He added: “There was a two-way struggle. It’s clear from the CCTV. She realises alcohol is a problem and, because she is six months pregnant, has been making strenuous efforts to overcome it.”

He said his client felt she had been provoked, and asked for pre-sentence reports.
Presiding magistrate Sue Campbell said: “This was a very distressing, offensive and unpleasant incident which took place in public.

There are many aggravating features… all options remain open, including custody.”
Ms King was bailed until July 31 while reports are prepared.

Newbury Today

Wayne Payne who fatally injured five-year-old in accident receives fresh three-year prison sentence for possessing cocaine with intent to supply

A killer driver who fatally injured a boy of five peddled drugs after being bailed over the tragedy.

Wayne Payne – already serving a five-year jail term for knocking down tragic Cameron Ward – received a fresh three-year prison sentence for possessing cocaine with intent to supply.

The 31-year-old sparked outrage when he callously told Cameron’s family: “S**t happens, life goes on” as he left Birmingham Crown Court after a previous hearing.

A judge who sentenced Payne for the drug offence condemned him as a common street dealer.

Recorder Kevin Hegarty told him: “Society takes a dim view of people dealing in class A drugs.”

Phillip Beardwell, prosecuting, told Birmingham Crown Court that police found almost five grammes of cocaine in a bag hidden inside a cooker at Payne’s home in Mount View, Sutton Coldfield, on October 4 last year.

Officers also recovered two bags of cutting agents from a kitchen worktop, along with a set of electronic scales and £380 stashed under a rug.

The judge said Payne, a self-employed car recovery driver with previous convictions for drugs offences, committed the offence after being bailed in connection with Cameron’s death.

Payne told the court he had used drugs for eight years and claimed he added a cutting agent to the cocaine to make it last longer.

Lewis Perry, defending, said there was no evidence of large-scale commercial dealing.

The three-year term will run consecutively to the five-year sentence imposed on Payne last month after he was found guilty of causing Cameron’s death by dangerous driving.

A jury took just 45 minutes to convict him of the motoring offence.

Jurors heard Payne was doing double the speed limit when his Vauxhall Vectra hit Cameron in Court Lane, Erdington, on April 1 last year.

The schoolboy’s dad John Ward was wheeling the Paget Primary pupil along on a pushbike ahead of mum Katie Lawrence and baby sister Ruby, who was just four-weeks-old at the time.

The trial heard Payne, who was also banned from driving for five years, was travelling at 61mph in a 30mph zone and he had not braked before the collision.

Birmingham Mail

These are screengrabs from Payne’s Facebook account.

The article about the speeding conviction can be found here.

Stefan Adamson, wearing a David Cameron mask, attending a previous court hearing

A MAN has been found guilty of stealing a charm bracelet worth £1,500 in what a judge called a “mean offence”.

Stefan Adamson, aged 26, had denied the theft of the Pandora bracelet but was found guilty by a jury after a trial at Plymouth Crown Court.

He snatched the bracelet as he walked out of the woman’s home at the end of their relationship on December 17 last year.

Adamson, of Rougemont Gardens, Eggbuckland, admitted taking the piece of jewellery but denied dishonesty.

He claimed he was going to use the bracelet as a “bargaining toll” to force his ex-partner to return his property which he claimed was still in the house.

The bracelet, which was pawned by Adamson, has since been recovered.

Recorder Francis Abbott told him: “It is a pretty mean offence. You have done it out of spite.

“You just thought you would do this because of the break-up of your relationship.”

Adamson was handed a 12-month community order with a three-month curfew. He must remain at home every night between 9pm and 5am.

Adamson, who is working part-time as a gardener, must also pay £50 victim surcharge.

Ex-partner Jade Willis had told the court that Adamson had bought the bracelet for her during their “on and off” three-year relationship.

She added that charms bought by herself, Adamson, and others had since been added to the bracelet, which she thought was worth £1,500.

Miss Willis said she had left the bracelet in her jacket, which went missing after Adamson left the house.

The court heard she was contacted a month later by someone who had seen its photograph on a shop’s website.

Nick Lewin, for Adamson, said he had pawned rather than sold the bracelet so that it could be recovered.

Plymouth Herald

You can read about his other conviction here

A JEALOUS lover who stabbed a rival after arranging to meet him in Victoria Square has been jailed for three years and four months.

Martin Glendening, aged 41, of Charles Street, Farnworth, stabbed Jon Lambert in the chest and elbow because he believed his partner was in a relationship with them both, Bolton Crown Court heard yesterday.

Mr Lambert had an emergency operation to have his spleen removed after the stabbing and is now expected to have a lower immunity to infections because of his injury.

He had to stay in hospital for several days.

Guy Mathieson, prosecuting, told Bolton Crown Court yesterday that the attack happened in the Bolton town centre square on May 26 last year.

The court heard that Glendening had been on the phone to Mr Lambert, who is from Blackburn, trying to direct him to Halliwell.

As Mr Lambert passed the phone box he was calling from, Glendening leapt out and attacked him in Victoria Square.

Mr Lambert at first thought he was being punched, but then realised he was bleeding when he felt liquid pouring down his leg.

He was stabbed in the left side of his chest and suffered “superficial injuries” to his elbow.

The court heard the defendant claimed he brought a knife with him after Mr Lambert threatened to use a machete in text messages.

Glendening, who has 45 convictions for 85 offences, admitted unlawful wounding on the day of his trial.

Eric Lamb, defending, said the victim and the defendant were meeting to “clear the air”, but it resulted in disaster for all involved.

Glendening was said to bitterly regret the crime, which has caused the breakdown of his relationship with his girlfriend.

Sentencing him, Judge Timothy Clayson said: “The case is obviously very serious.

“The background consisted of a relationship with a woman and a degree of jealousness and possessiveness.

“The victim was seen as a threat to you.”

Bolton News

This story is from January 2013

This screengrab is from EDL News

This is from the Bolton EDl facebook page.

A family were subjected to a terrifying racist attack by a gang of yobs in the west end of Newcastle as they tried to move in their furniture

Daniel McStay, jailed for racist attacks in Elswick

Vile racist thugs drove an Asian family out of their new home as they tried to move in.

The Ali family pulled up outside their new house in Elswick, Newcastle, only to be greeted by a seething gang of young yobs.

Boxer Daniel McStay and five or six youths started punching and kicking their car, telling them to get off “their estate” and threatening to kill them.

Terrified Mr Ali, who had his wife and three daughters in the car, frantically began reversing to try to get away as the gang kicked his car.

One of them threw a pint glass of beer at the back of his car, which smashed showering the car with alcohol and glass.

Fifteen minutes later McStay and two youths subjected another man to a racist attack as he waited in his car for his friend outside Elswick mosque.

As McStay, 22, was jailed for eight months, Mr Ali told how the incident had left him and his family scared to move in.

He said: “We had been looking forward to moving in to the new house but now we do not wish to do so.

“My daughters and wife are extremely upset, we have not been involved in an incident like this before.

“My family have been racially targeted for no reason. The damage to my car can be repaired, however mentally we have all suffered.”

Newcastle Crown Court heard the family were taking furniture to the house on Brittania Place, Elswick, around 3pm on March 23, ahead of moving in.

Just after Mr Ali, his wife and daughters, aged, 10, 18 and 19, pulled up, McStay and the others approached from behind, swigging alcohol.

Neil Pallister, prosecuting, said one of them shouted: “You better not be moving here or we will kill you, this is our estate.”

There followed a tirade of vile racist abuse and a 17-year-old started punching the driver’s side window shouting “Get out of here or I will kill you.”

Mr Pallister said: “All of the males were involved in the racial abuse and McStay joined in.

“Clearly Mr Ali and his family were in great fear and he began reversing his car down the street and turned round to drive away.

“As he reversed his car the group began kicking his car and ran after him and his family.

“One of them threw a pint glass which hit the rear window of the car, smashing glass and showering the car with alcohol as they drove away.”

After getting clear of the attack and reporting it to police, the family saw their car had been dented, causing hundreds of pounds of damage.

Mr Pallister said: “They were too scared and frightened to move into the address.”

Just fifteen minutes later McStay and two youths targeted an 18-year-old as he waited in his car outside Elswick mosque.

He was racially abused and told to leave the area and also had his car kicked.

Mr Pallister said: “The victim was very fearful for his safety and he locked his car door but the males continued to shout racial abuse at him.

“Fearing for his safety he felt obliged to reverse away out of the location. As he slowly drove away the gang followed him, waving their hands to shoo him away and one of them kicked his vehicle.”

Police caught up with them nearby and eventually Mcstay was also charged over the earlier attack after his trainer print was found on Mr Ali’s car.

McStay, of Kenilworth Road, Elswick, pleaded guilty to two charges of racially aggravated harassment, racially aggravated criminal damage and possessing cannabis.

He has previous convictions for offences including racially aggravated threatening words or behaviour, arson and affray.

Andrew Walker, defending, said: “These incidents were utterly reprehensible, deeply unpleasant and grossly offensive to those to whom it was aimed.

“It was pathetic in terms of the ignorance of those involved, who should all be utterly ashamed of themselves.”

Mr Walker added that McStay, who he said was not the prime mover, takes part in unlicenced boxing bouts.

Two 17-year-olds involved in the incidents were sent to the youth court to be dealt with.

Newcastle Chronicle

Joseph Shaw – problem with binge-drinking

A drunken thug has been locked up for three years for scarring a man for life after he hit him in the face with a glass bottle following a booze binge.

Joseph Shaw, 19, had consumed ten pints of lager, ten alcopops and chased each one down with a shot of Aftershock before lashing out at his victim, Bradford Crown Court was told yesterday.

Simon Howarth, who had been at the Music at Myrtle festival in Bingley, was standing in the doorway of Abs Fast Food takeaway in the town centre, drinking from a glass beer bottle, late at night, on September 4 last year.

He saw Shaw, who was wearing a monitoring tag on his ankle as part of a sentence imposed for an affray, also committed while he was under the influence of alcohol, and made a joke at his expense.

Prosecutor Duncan Ritchie said Shaw, of Florence Avenue, Wilsden, threatened to punch Mr Howarth and then asked for a drink of his beer.

Mr Howarth handed the bottle over and as he reached to take it back Shaw swung it at the left hand side of his face, causing it to smash.

Mr Ritchie said: “He (Mr Howarth) soon became aware of a lot of blood coming down his face. Witnesses described skin and flesh falling away from his face and how it had to be held in place.” The wound ran from his lip to his cheekbone and extended to some of the cheek muscles.

In a statement read to the court by Mr Ritchie, Mr Howarth said: “It was so sudden and unprovoked. I am undergoing counselling at the moment. The left side of my face is tight when I smile and talk, I feel embarrassed and nervous when I go out. It’s not nice feeling like a freak show and like everyone’s looking at you.”

Bronia Hartley, for Shaw, said he knew he had a problem with binge drinking and it had not been a premeditated attack.

She said his remorse was shown by the fact he had written a letter to apologise to Mr Howarth.

Sentencing him to three years imprisonment in a young offender institution, Judge Jonathan Rose said: “Alcohol is the fuel that drives you and brings out in you a violent young man.”

He added: “Not withstanding that community order and the tag around your ankle, you drank and behaved with a boorish, bullying aggressiveness and the drunken young man lashed out with this bottle.”

After Shaw was locked up, PC Priscilla Haigh, of Airedale and North Bradford CID, said: “This was a particularly brutal attack which left the victim with serious and permanent injuries and we welcome the fact this has been recognised in court.”

Telegraph & Argus

Story published in Jan 2010.

Controlling Paul Oxberry head-butted his partner when she was pregnant with his child.

The 19-year-old had been in a relationship with Sandra Forbister for nine months when he attacked her after a drinking session.

The pair had been out together, on May 31, when an argument broke out as they made their way home on a bus. Which ended with Oxberry head-butting her.

Rebecca Laverick, prosecuting said: “She said he was very controlling. He was always ringing her up and he didn’t let her go out by herself. She said he often becomes aggressive when he’s drunk but thought he wouldn’t do anything because the two children were with them. But he continued to be aggressive. She told him she wanted him to leave her alone. Then with out warning he head-butted her.”

Ms Forbister asked one of her children to call the police, but when they failed to get the phone working she managed to run to a nearby garden and dial 999.

Mrs Laverick added: “She said she’s not going to stay with Paul. She feels isolated from friends and family because he’s so controlling.”

However, the court heard the couple had since rekindled their relationship.

Oxberry, of Castle Street, in Hazlerigg, Newcastle, admitted assault by beating.

Kevin Kivlehan, defending, said: “He’s only 19 and has severe learning difficulties. He says he accepts the head-but. The two of them had been in drink and arguing all day and he had simply had enough.

Oxberry will be sentenced next month.

Newcastle Chronicle

Jamie Ray, 26, was sentenced for a charge of drunk and disorderly after being arrested during EDL protest in June

A man who was arrested during an English Defence League protest has been given a 12-month conditional discharge.

Jamie Ray appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, August 27, where he was sentenced for a charge of drunk and disorderly – an offence he was arrested for during an EDL protest in June.

The 26-year-old, of Park Road North, Middlesbrough, was also charged with two counts of failing to surrender to custody at court – on July 28 and July 23 – using threatening or abusive words or behaviour and possessing a Class B drug – both on July 9.

A charge of possessing a bladed article in a public place was withdrawn.

As previously reported about 350 people took part in a demonstration on Corporation Road, Middlesbrough town centre, while a further 150 people took part in a counter demonstration, both on June 28.

More than 300 police officers were involved in an operation during the march and counter demonstration, which had been planned for a number of months.

Ray was one of two men arrested on the day.

The other – Andrew David Johnson, 37, of Moorcock Close, Eston – previously pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly.

He was fined £35 and ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge.

However, Ray initially failed to turn up to court following his arrest. A warrant without bail was then issued for his arrest.

Gazette Live

A FORMER soldier from York racially abused a disabled busker in the city centre because he had seen him on TV boasting about claiming benefits, a court has heard.

Mark Hawksby, 34, spotted Viorel Dinu in Coney Street, a week after having seen him on Channel 5’s Gypsies on Benefits and Proud.

Hawksby, of St Mary’s Close in Wigginton, recognised Mr Dinu while he was playing the accordion and rounded on him.

Mr Dinu, who has no legs, was sitting on a skateboard in a shop doorway.

Hawksby claimed there was so much money in his coat by 11.30am that he tripped over it on the pavement.

At York Magistrates Court, Hawksby said: “I had a go at him about being on the programme and what he had said.

“He said he had come to Britain purposely because it was a soft touch.

“I said ‘You’re out of order for going on this TV programme and saying you can milk the system’.”

The court heard Hawksby threw the coat into the gutter in Coney Street, scattering the money.

He also grabbed Dinu’s accordion and threw it into the road, saying: “This is English money for English people.”

The court heard a puzzled crowd formed and Hawksby was grabbed by a girl from a hen party, then stormed off, yelling: “I will see you do not busk in York again.”

Dinu, who travels the country telling people he lost his legs as a child when he was run over by a train, did not report the incident and did not co-operate with police who investigated after complaints from the public.

Hawksby was arrested after his picture was taken by University of York Professor Nick Brown, who shared the images with North Yorkshire Police on Facebook.

Hawksby told officers: “He is not even from York. It costs 23 to 25 quid on the train so he must be earning some right money busking.”

Hawksby denied racially aggravated threatening behaviour but was convicted.

He was given a four month suspended jail sentence and ordered to pay £100 costs and an £80 surcharge.

Mr Dinu had told the Channel 5 programme that he and other Romanians had come to the UK because it was a “soft touch” the court heard.

The Press

FOUR English Defence League (EDL) members have been convicted of a religiously aggravated offence following a Thatcham town centre protest.

The prosecution was brought after up to 20 people, some draped in St George Cross flags and one wearing a rubber pig mask, descended on The Broadway on the night on Friday, February 28.

Their target was Hosans kebab van.

Chants of “muslim groomers off our streets – go back to your own country,” and “no surrender to the Taliban” filled the room at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday as footage from police officers’ body cameras was screened.

Naomi Edwards, prosecuting, said: “Protesting is fine and proper but this went beyond what’s acceptable.”

In the dock were 22-year-old Rory Rowbottom of Hartmead Road, Thatcham; Julie Anne Worthington, aged 35, of Russell Road, Reading; 50-year-old Simon Brammer of Haywards Close, Southampton, Hampshire and Gary Hazel, aged 38, of Forsyth Gardens, Bournemouth, Dorset.

A fifth defendant, 44-year-old Edward Cullerne Scovell of Donnington Gardens, Reading, failed to turn up and was convicted in his absence.

They had been charged with a Section 5 offence of religiously aggravated harassment but a scheduled three-day trial was avoided after all but Mr Hazel – who denied the offence – admitted a lesser charge of using religiously aggravated, threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

Ms Edwards said the protest was against a “perceived injustice” – specifically, that police had failed to properly investigate an EDL member’s assertion that young girls were bring groomed.

Giving evidence, Mr Hazel said: “An employee of Hosans van was known to give alcohol, free food and drugs to young girls aged 13 to 14. The parents of one girl told one of our supporters and he did a sting operation. He sent a text message (pretending to be the girl) to the man and got messages back like : ‘I love, you; don’t tell your mum; meet me after school.’”

He claimed: “Our supporter, who gave the texts to the police, was arrested himself. The young girls offered to make statements to police but they weren’t believed and warned that, as the EDL was involved, they faced possible charges themselves.”

But Mr Hazel then denied specifically targeting the van and claimed the slogans were “humourous, football-style chants” aimed at “raising awareness.”

Ms Edwards asked: “Phrases like ‘paedo kebabs off our streets’ wouldn’t have caused distress to the occupants of Hosans kebab van?”

Mr Hazel insisted the chants were “not directed at anyone.”

Convicting Mr Hazel, district judge Davinder Lachhar said: “There was suspicion that an employee of this van was involved in grooming young girls; you felt the police and your MP didn’t investigate to your satisfaction – therefore you took it into your own hands to go to this particular van.

“It doesn’t take a genius to work out why. To say these comments weren’t directed towards them is absolute nonsense.”

She added: “You were shouting the name of the van and making ‘paedo’ comments. I’ve seen the behaviour of the group – you weren’t just ‘raising awareness’ – far from it. There was someone wearing a pig mask, ‘bacon’ being shouted and things about muslims being shouted. It was getting out of hand.

“You say you don’t remember children being in the area – of course you were aware. You had the megaphone and I don’t believe for a moment that your comments weren’t aimed at that particular van. If this wasn’t religiously aggravated, I don’t know what is.”

Mr Hazel was fined £200 and orderedto pay £200 costs plus a statutory victim surcharge of £20.

Mr Bramer was fined £150 with £100 costs and £20 surcharge.

Mr Rowbottom and Miss Worthington were eached fined £100 with £100 costs and £20 surcharge.

A warrant was issued for Mr Scovell’s arrest.

Newbury Today

A FIRE on a North Sea ferry which sparked a major rescue operation when it was carrying around 1,000 people was started by a drunk passenger who was smoking cannabis in a cabin, a court has heard.

Boden George Hughes, 26, admitted arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered, during a brief hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, where his trial had been due to start.

The fire on the DFDS Newcastle to Amsterdam service happened at around 11pm on December 28 when the vessel was 30 miles off the North Yorkshire coast.

Six people were winched off the ferry by the RAF and helicoptered to hospital.

Hughes, who also admitted affray, pleaded guilty to arson on the basis that he was drunk, was smoking cannabis in a bong, and the fire started when his lighter’s flame set a pile of clothes ablaze.

He had altered his lighter so it produced a constant flame, he claimed.

Judge James Goss, the Recorder of Newcastle, will sentence Hughes, of Fulwell Road, Sunderland, in September.

Hughes was remanded in custody and warned to expect a lengthy prison sentence.

Judge Goss said: “Be under no illusions as to the seriousness of the crimes you have admitted today.

“This (arson) was a very serious offence which will attract a substantial sentence of imprisonment.”

Ian Lawrie QC, prosecuting, said figures will be produced at the next hearing to show the losses incurred by DFDS after the fire.

He said the helicopter rescue alone cost £50,000.

Mr Lawrie said a reconstruction of the fire showed that a blaze in a cabin using the same combustible clothing took just two minutes to engulf the space.

Hughes was guilty of “spectacular recklessness”, he said.

He added: “He was clearly drunk, he was clearly also on drugs.”

After the terrifying experience of a fire and rescue operation miles out to sea, Hughes’s fellow passengers faced the frustration of returning to Newcastle.

Passengers hugged family members in relief at the ferry terminal when they were finally allowed off, with some vowing never to sail again.

Julie Bell and Shaun Richardson, from Washington, Tyne and Wear, were on a weekend away.

At the time she said: “It was like a scene from a movie, a chaotic mess, horrible.

“It was terrifying and I won’t be travelling by boat again. I think I will stay in the UK from now on, it’s a lot safer.”

The King Seaways vessel was carrying 946 people at the time, plus crew.

RAF helicopters from Leconfield near Hull and Boulmer, Northumberland, were scrambled to the vessel along with RNLI lifeboats from Bridlington and Filey.

As he was led away, Hughes, dressed in a grey sweatshirt for the hearing, said: “Thank you, Your Honour.”

Sunderland Echo

Eight rival football supporters have been jailed for their part in a violent brawl which erupted before a match between Huddersfield Town and Millwall.

Bradford Crown Court heard Huddersfield supporters started the trouble last April by throwing bottles and ashtrays at mini buses carrying Millwall fans.

Six Huddersfield fans and two Millwall fans have been jailed for between 18 and nine months.

Twelve others were also given varying sentences for their part in the fight.

The trouble flared when the mini buses stopped outside the Waterloo pub on Wakefield Road, in Huddersfield, an hour before the match on 16 April.

The following Huddersfield supporters were given prison sentences after admitting violent disorder:

Leon Stephenson, 30, of Taylor Hill Road, Huddersfield, was jailed for 18 months and given a six-year football banning order.

Danny Melia, 26, of Close Lea, Brighouse, was jailed for 15 months.

Andrew Miller, 38, of Brackenhall Road, Huddersfield, was jailed for 18 months.

Three other Huddersfield fans were also jailed:

Craig Roberts, 26, of Elm Street, Huddersfield, was jailed for 18 months for violent disorder and possessing an offensive weapon.

Conrad Ayscough, 44, of Hurstwood, Huddersfield, was jailed for 15 months for violent disorder.

Jeremy McDonald, 44, of Gramfield Road, Huddersfield, was jailed for 12 months for violent disorder.

The two Millwall supporters jailed for violent disorder were:

Ojay Roynan, 31, of Granville Road, Kent, who was jailed for nine months and given a six-year football banning order.

Glen Sherman, 36, of Hawkins Way, Essex, was jailed for nine months and given a six-year football banning order.

The following people were also sentenced:

Gerard Bradshaw, 47, of Greenwood Street, Huddersfield, given a six-month suspended jail sentence for affray.

Lee Donaghue, 39, of Melrose Close, Huddersfield, given a nine-month suspended jail sentence for affray.

Nicholas Palfreeman, 42, of Edgware Road, Huddersfield, given a six-month suspended jail sentence for assisting an offender.

Jake Peel, 22, of Beaumont Street, Huddersfield, given a 12-month suspended jail sentence for affray.

Kieron Moore, 20, of Daw Royds, Huddersfield, given a nine-month suspended jail sentence for violent disorder.

Oliver Dyson, 20, of Benomley Road, Huddersfield, given a nine-month suspended jail sentence for violent disorder.

Andrew Hunt, 26, of Denholme Street, Rastrick, given a nine-month suspended jail sentence for affray.

Ryan McDougal, 32, of Marlow Gardens, London, given a nine-month suspended jail sentence and a four-year football banning order for violent disorder.

Paul Cremin, 36, of Dunblane Road, London, given a 12-month suspended jail sentence for violent disorder.

Darren Dunphy, 30, Granville Road, Kent, given a 10-month suspended jail sentence for violent disorder.

Dean Harrison, 35, of Kitto Road, London, given a 10-month suspended jail sentence for violent disorder.

BBC News

This story is from 2011 and relates to Conrad Ayscough who can also be found on this website here and here

Huddersfield man Conrad Ayscough was said to have pressured a vulnerable woman into lending him her Peugeot car for a couple of days last June, but instead of returning it he scrapped the vehicle without her knowledge

A prolific criminal with convictions for more than 180 offences has been jailed for 20 months after committing another series of crimes in West Yorkshire.

Huddersfield man Conrad Ayscough was said to have pressured a vulnerable woman into lending him her Peugeot car for a couple of days last June, but instead of returning it he scrapped the vehicle without her knowledge.

Ayscough, who had more than 20 convictions for driving while disqualified, later handled a stolen BMW car and made off in the vehicle on two occasions without paying for petrol.

The 47-year-old admitted theft of the Peugeot and handling the BMW as well as two offences of making off without payment, three offences of driving while disqualified and three allegations of driving without insurance.

Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday that Ayscough was arrested in August after being spotted behind the wheel of a Ford Focus.

In a victim impact statement the woman who owned the Peugeot described how she had difficulty walking too far because of medical condition and she had suffered a lost her independence when the car was taken.

She later told police that it had cost her £1000 to replace the car.

Ayscough’s lawyer Anne-Marie Hutton told the court that her client had been committing the offences at the time when he was acquainted with a woman in Sheffield.

Miss Hutton told Judge John Potter that her client had been in custody since his arrest in August, but if he was given his liberty he did have an offer of accommodation close to his home environment in Huddersfield.

She said his parents were elderly and Ayscough helped to look after his brother.

But Judge Potter described Ayscough’s record of offending as dreadful and said his crimes were self-centred and selfish.

In addition to jailing Ayscough Judge Potter also banned him from driving again for two years.

Huddersfield Examiner

Conrad Ayscough also appears in the website here and here

A MAN with 22 previous convictions for driving while disqualified during a 25-year period of offending gave a false name when he was stopped by Whitehaven police.

Conrad Ayscough admitted driving while banned and was sent to prison for five months by Whitehaven magistrates. He also admitted giving a false name to obstruct police and driving without insurance.

Ayscough, 38, of Boothtarn, Halifax, was driving on Inkerman Terrace when he was pulled over by police, near the Marchon Social Club.

He gave the name John Edwards and was arrested on suspicion of taking a vehicle without consent. Subsequent enquiries revealed he was a banned driver, with his disqualification due to run until June 2007. He had previously served a term of imprisonment for driving while banned/drink driving, the court heard, and a warrant for his arrest was outstanding from Bradford Crown Court in relation to an alleged theft.

Whitehaven News

Conrad Ayscough also appears on the site here and here

A MAN accused of stealing fuel from several petrol stations faces trial.

Conrad Ayscough, of Hall Cross Road, Lowerhouses, was before Kirklees magistrates yesterday.

He faces four charges of making off without payment between February 4 and 23.

The 46-year-old is alleged to have stolen petrol from Birchencliffe Service Station as well as from service stations in Lockwood Road, Lockwood, and Wade Street and Salterhebble Hill, both in Halifax.

Ayscough denies the charges together with an additional charge of driving whilst disqualified.

He pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of a small quantity of class B drug amphetamine on February 23.

Magistrates told him that he faces trial at the Huddersfield court on July 2.

Ayscough was granted unconditional bail.

Huddersfield Examiner

Passengers had to be airlifted to safety as smoke filled the ferry’s corridors when Boden Hughes torched his cabin while smoking cannabis

Arsonist Boden Hughes has been jailed for 11 years after setting a North Sea ferry on fire while smoking cannabis in his cabin.

Hughes was so drunk he could barely walk or talk as he travelled to Amsterdam with friends aboard a DFDS ferry.

After being ejected from the ship’s casino for being too intoxicated, he went back to cabin number 568 alone and, as he tried to light a cannabis bong, the room went up in flames.

Damage caused by fire started on DFDS ferry by Boden Hughes

The crew were unable to bring the blaze under control using fire extinguishers and only the ship’s sprinkler system managed to douse the fire.

Many of the 946 passengers on board, including children and a pregnant woman, began to panic as smoke filled the narrow corridors of the ship.

A total of 27 people needed medical treatment for smoke inhalation while six passengers, including the pregnant woman, had to be winched to safety by a helicopter.

The drama unfolded around 25 miles out to sea aboard the King Seaways ferry, on December 28 last year.

As Hughes was jailed for that and a separate offence of stealing railway cable, it emerged the fire had left DFDS £800,000 out of pocket.

Judge James Goss QC, at Newcastle Crown Court, told him: “Passengers had to be evacuated from their cabins and there was panic and children were screaming.

“The fire caused enormous danger and panic and the total cost of the fire was £800,000.

“It was a spectacular piece of recklessness committed by a drunk man on bail at the time and the consequences could have been disastrous.

“Fires on a ship are even more serious than those on land because escape routes are limited and the stability of the vessel can be affected by the water used to put it out.”

The court heard Hughes, his girlfriend and others made a last minute decision to travel to Holland between last Christmas and New Year.

They took a bottle of vodka and drank that and other alcohol on board the ship after departing from North Shields.

Hughes then went off on his own for an hour, visiting the casino and consuming more drink.

Around 10pm he was trying to get back into his cabin but went to the wrong room. A member of security spotted him walking in a “zig zag fashion” and helped him back to his cabin.

Prosecutor Ian Lawrie QC said: “It was not easy to get him to the cabin, he had to keep steadying himself against the deck and walls.

“Eventually they got him in the cabin and it was within one minute or so that the fire alarm was activated on the main bridge.

“The response crew were asked to go to the deck and they found the corridor full of smoke.

“People were yelling and pushing each other in anticipation of the evacuation. One witness tells how she had to be winched into a helicopter while pregnant.”

Half-naked Hughes was partially out of his cabin and sprawled on the floor. When security picked him up he became aggressive and refused to do as he was told.

He was taken to another deck, where he then started fighting with James Curry, a friend of his.

In front of other, already terrified passengers, including children, the bare-chested pair started hitting each other and Curry also hit a member of security.

The pair were eventually detained and thrown in the ship’s cells as the captain aborted the trip and headed back to Tyneside.

The court heard DFDS had to pay £80,000 for repairs, £30,000 deviation costs, £25,000 medical evacuation costs, £475,000 for passenger liabilities, lost £170,000 in revenue and had to pay £25,000 legal costs.

Hughes, 27, of Fulwell Road, Sunderland, admitted arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered and affray for the fight with Curry. He got nine years for that plus two years for stealing copper cable from the rail network along with others.

Curry, 29, of Calshott Road, Sunderland, admitted assaulting a crew member during the fracas, threatening behaviour and the copper cable theft. He got three years and three months prison.

Christopher Morrison, for Hughes, said: “The person most at risk from this act of errant stupidity was the defendant.

“He wants to say he is extremely sorry, especially to those who had to be airlifted.”

Jane Foley, for Curry, said: “He became involved in a fight because of Hughes’ involvement with the incident which led to the fire.”

Newcastle Chronicle

Liam Smith openly laughed as the court heard how his victim had been left traumatised after his attempted robbery of a Gateshead newsagent

Liam Smith who has been jailed for three years

A raider who laughed on hearing how he left his victim traumatised has been jailed.

Liam Smith smirked and openly laughed when a court was told how his attempted robbery at a Gateshead newsagent’s had left the lone female worker having nightmares and living in fear.

Shirtless Smith, 21, burst into Martin’s newsagent in Oakfield Road, Whickham, knocking over a lottery stand before walking behind the counter and pushing his hand into the face of terrified worker Lisa Thirkell.

The raider then screamed at Ms Thirkell “give me the money; get the cash out; get the till open”.

The attempted robbery was only stopped when a customer came in the shop, realised what was happening and shouted “get off her” before wrestling Smith to the ground.

Smith, of Hyde Park Street, Gateshead, pleased guilty to attempted robbery last month.

Mark Guiliani, prosecuting, read out a victim statement from Ms Thirkell. In it she said: “He grabbed me, I feared he was going to seriously assault me.

“To the defendant I say ‘why me, why me, why anyone?’ What gave him the right to treat me as his enemy?

“The job has been difficult and I still shudder every time the door chimes. I hate thinking everyone is like him.

“The incident has not only affected my work but it has been detrimental to me. I have trouble sleeping, nightmares and I’ve been to my GP.”

When Mr Guiliani finished reading the statement, Judge James Goss QC immediately raised concerns about Smith’s laughing.

He said: “At various points when the statement was being read out, the defendant either smiled or laughed at the effect of this offence on his victim.”

The laughing caused the judge to reject any claims Smith was sorry for his actions, jailing him for three years.

The judge added: “You do not smile repeatedly and laugh at times when the effect of the victim was being described to this court if you were genuinely remorseful.”

Defending Michael Hodson said his client’s laughter was down to adolescent bravado and the offence had been unplanned and the result of heavy drinking.

Following the case, Ms Thirkell said: “I’m just glad it’s all over now.”

Newcastle Chronicle

From his Facebook account.

English Defence League supporters became involved in ‘grotesque violence’ as they tried to get into a pub on their way back from a rally, a court heard.

The clash between EDL supporters from Rugeley and Tamworth and drinkers at the pub in Nuneaton led to six men being sentenced at Warwick Crown Court for their parts in the disorder.

But because of the long delay in the police getting the case to court following the incident in February 2011, all six were handed suspended prison sentences.

Christopher Tully, John Horton, Neil Grant and Daniel Edkins were all sentenced to eight months in prison suspended for 12 months after pleading guilty to violent disorder.

Tully, 26, of Cadogan Road, Dosthill, Tamworth, was also ordered to do 130 hours of unpaid work and to pay £300 costs.

Horton, 44, of Johnson Close, Rugeley, whose health problems make him unfit for unpaid work, was made subject to a 4pm to 3am electronically-tagged curfew for three months.

Grant, 45, of Stoneleigh Court, Coton Road, Nuneaton, was ordered to do 120 hours work and pay £300 costs, and Edkins, 31, of Marston Lane, Nuneaton, to do 110 hours and to pay £100 costs.

Stephen Ginnelly, 52, of Franklin Court, Nuneaton, who had also admitted violent disorder, and Douglas Tully, 25, of Cadogan Road, Dosthill, who had pleaded guilty to affray, were both sentenced to six months suspended for 12 months. They were both ordered to do 80 hours of unpaid work, with Ginnelly having to pay £100 costs and Douglas Tully £200.

A seventh man, Ross Gilbert, 27, of William Morris Close, Rugeley, who had admitted violent disorder, failed to turn up at the court, and his case was adjourned.

Prosecutor Jason Pegg said: “The disorder involved two groups. Both Tullys, together with Horton and Gilbert were part of the EDL group; and the second group was the other three defendants who were enjoying an evening in a pub in Nuneaton, the George Eliot in Bridge Street.

“The EDL group had been to Luton to an EDL demonstration. They got off the train and went into Nuneaton town centre. They bought some fish and chips and made their way to the George.”

CCTV coverage showed that on the way Christopher Tully put on gloves and a ski mask with the cross of St George on it.

When they reached the George Eliot at about 7.15pm people at the pub stood in the doorway to prevent them getting in.

Sentencing the men, Judge Griffith-Jones told them: “I don’t know if any of you thought you were being hard or impressive, you just looked truly pathetic.

“But the most important point in mitigation in this case is the fact that we are now in September 2014, and these events took place in February 2011.

“If I had been dealing with the case in any sort of reasonable period of time, it would have been my duty to set a sentence which would act as a deterrence to drunken thugs fighting in this way – but after three-and-a-half years such a sentence would not be just.”

Express & Star

A serving soldier from Manchester charged with a terror offence has admitted making a nail bomb.

Ryan McGee, 19, was serving with the 5th Battalion The Rifles when he was detained in December at an Army base in Germany after the discovery of a suspicious device at a Salford house.

He also admitted a separate charge at the Old Bailey of possessing a copy of The Anarchist Cookbook on bombs

McGee, of Mellor Street, Eccles, was bailed ahead of sentencing in November.

The Anarchist Cookbook includes instructions for the manufacture of explosives as well as for home-manufacturing of drugs.

McGee admitted possession of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terror and making explosives contrary to the Explosives Substance Act by making an Improvised Explosive Device.\

BBC News

Drunken friends who got naked in a bath with a stolen pet rabbit, tried to shave her then threw her out of a window before wringing her neck

Frank Hudson, 19 and Martin Bell, 20, leave Peterlee magistrates court with a family member after sentencing

Drunken friends got naked in a bath with a stolen pet rabbit, tried to shave her then threw her out of a window before wringing her neck.

Percy, a much-loved white lion-headed rabbit had recently given birth to five babies when she was taken from her hutch, carried to a party in Seaham, County Durham, and then cruelly abused by Martin Bell, 20, Frank Hudson, 19 and two 17-year-olds who cannot be identified.

The baby rabbits died despite the efforts of their owners to rear them by hand because they could not survive without their mother.

Peterlee Magistrates’ Court heard how Bell and Hudson admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the pet.

Both men were given 18-month community orders, with 18 months of supervision, and 200 hours of unpaid work each.

They were both banned from keeping animals for five years, ordered to pay £85 costs each and £50 each in compensation.

Chairman of the Bench William Brown said: “What we have had described to us is quite a horrendous event.”

Newcastle Chronicle

The EDL Criminal here is Martin Bell who is a member of the Seaham EDL group.

You can read more about the story here