Britain First members who yelled racist remarks at a shop owner sentenced
Two members of far-right group Britain First yelled racist remarks at a shop owner and made false allegations before dumping leaflets promoting a march at the premises featured in an internet video.
Jason Stanyard, 37, and Simon Humphreys, 50, were among a group of seven to target the Silicon Valley store, in Telford, telling the Asian owner to “return to his country” and take his “sick book” with him, a reference to the Koran, a court heard.
Staff at the business were left terrified after the group produced a video that highlighted an Islamic symbol on the shopfront, and claimed the store, in New Street, Wellington, was sporting the symbol of terrorist group Isis, Telford Magistrates' Court was told.
The footage was viewed nearly 400,000 times on Facebook, and shared around 5,000 times.
The pair also made completely false allegations to Azhar Hussain and a customer of being paedophiles during the incident on January 28.
Miss Abigall Hall, prosecuting, said: “The witnesses state that the defendants were aggressive and were shouting at them. Stanyard told them that this was a Christian country and they should go and practise Islam somewhere else. He also said all you paedophiles go back to your own country.
“As they left they threw a number of leaflets up into the air that promoted a Britain First march in the town which also made certain allegations about Muslims.”
The court heard Humphreys told the victims: “You’re coming into this country and grooming our girls. We’re coming back on February 25 with a big march. You should be careful with your windows”.
The court heard that both defendants had since left Britain First.
But father-of two Stanyard told District Judge Nigel Cadbury: “I admit making those comments. I admit I shouldn’t have gone about it in that way. It’s what I believe.”
Mr Cadbury replied: “It is prejudiced to tar everyone with the same brush. One or two people were convicted for committing sexual offences, but it doesn’t mean that all men are sex offenders. It is your thinking that needs to be changed. Of course the complainants felt intimated and threatened.”
Mr John Macmillan, mitigating for Stanyard, said he issues with heroin, had overcome alcoholism and was already subject to a 12-week curfew for benefit fraud.
Stanyard, of Shaw Hedge Road, Bewdley, admitted two counts of racially and religious harassment and one count of using threatening words. The judge sentenced him to 12 weeks jail on each count to run concurrently suspended for 12 months. He must attend rehabilitation for 20 days and his curfew was extended a further 12 weeks. He must also pay £100 compensation each to both victims and £115 victims’ surcharge.
Humphreys, of Vernier Avenue, Kingswinford, admitted one count of racially and religious harassment and one count of using threatening words. He was sentenced to a 12-week community order, he must carry out 66 hours unpaid work, attend 20 rehabilitation days, pay costs £105, £85 victims’ surcharge, and £200 compensation to Mr Hussain. Both defendants must also attend a diversity programme.
Britain First held a march in Telford on February 25 it claimed in protest of 'Muslim grooming gangs' in the area following the jailing of seven men in 2013 relating to child sexual exploitation.
