September 02, 2009

BNP member pleads guilty to making Nazi salute in Codnor

A BNP member has been fined for giving a Nazi salute during clashes with protesters marching against the party's annual Red, White and Blue festival. John Jones was one of a small group who argued with anti-fascist campaigners as they moved along Codnor-Denby Lane, Denby. Police told Jones, 66, to leave the scene but as he did so he made the gesture.

The three-day Red, White and Blue festival was held on fields off Codnor-Denby Lane for the third consecutive year last month. About 1,000 left-wing activists were involved in the march on August 15, at the time when the argument broke out.

Yesterday Jones, of Curtis Road, Epsom, appeared at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court. He pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour which was racially aggravated. Fernando Rodrigues, prosecuting, said the group including Jones had been walking along the road when police told them to move into a field, as the protesters approached. A police cordon was formed and, as the march went past, the two groups exchanged words.

Mr Rodrigues said: "The offender raised his arm in the air in what was described as a Nazi salute. During his police interview, he stated he had come to Derbyshire from London the previous day to attend the festival. He (Jones) openly stated he was a member of the BNP and showed his membership card."

Jones, who was not represented, told the court that he was threatened with words such as "Kill the BNP" and pelted with fruit. Speaking after the hearing, Jones said he had been a party member for about 20 years but had been unable to go to the festival because of his arrest. Jones was fined £71, with £60 costs and a £15 Government surcharge. Presiding magistrate Anthony Stanley said the salute was a "serious offence". However, Kirit Mistry, executive director of Derby Racial Equality Council, which was involved in organising the protest, said the fine was not enough.

He said: "He should also have been told to complete a cultural awareness programme as part of his punishment."

BNP spokesman Simon Darby said Jones would face a disciplinary hearing to decide his future with the party. Two other men, Saville Davies, 25, of Hollywell Avenue, Codnor, and a 17-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, pleaded not guilty to the same charge as Jones. They will appear for trial in December.

This is Derbyshire

7 comments:

Jamie The Antifascist said...

The BNP doesn't seem to be able stay away from courts at the moment, they are spending more time in front of a judge then they have actually doing some real work-hang-on, real work? BNP? nah, lol

Roland The Rat said...

Didn't BNP members make Hitler salutes outside of the rat-infested New Kimberley boarding house in Blackpool?

If so, whey aren't they being charged also?

bennie said...

Yet more window dressing from deadbeat Darby!

Disciplinary hearings my ass!!

Don't make me laugh!!!

Anonymous said...

"BNP spokesman Simon Darby said Jones would face a disciplinary hearing to decide his future with the party"

Do any of the members exposed in the media as being racists and Nazis go onto be expelled from the BNP or disciplined?

Is this just something to feed the media in the immediate aftermath of the event and then everything is quietly forgotten or do people actually land up getting disciplined?

Anonymous said...

What a lovely week the BNP are having.
The Party fined for not producing it's accounts.
Robert Bailey a snior BNP member and former GLC candidate fined for drink driving and banned for 18months. Who refused to cooperate with officers because he believed they were part of a politically inspired conspiracy acting upon "a higher order".

John Jones a BNP member fined for racially aggravated threatening behaviour at the RWB 'gala'

We want 4, we want 4... C'mon you can do it Nick.

Anonymous said...

What a lovely week the BNP are having

Don't forget their two election butt kickings since Griffin and Brons got elected to Brussels - and both in the North West!

Anonymous said...

Didn't BNP members make Hitler salutes outside of the rat-infested New Kimberley boarding house in Blackpool?

If so, whey aren't they being charged also?

I thought they WERE charged?