TWO women who have denied a religiously-motivated assault on a Kurdish woman at a city centre takeaway will face trial later this year.
Hayley Wells, aged 27, and Kelly Watterson, aged 29, both appeared at Plymouth Crown Court on the joint charge of religiously aggravated common assault on Sawda Kurdo at the Istanbul Kebab shop in Exeter Street on August 31 last year.
Wells of Shell Close, Leigham and Watterson, of St Peter's Road, Manadon, pleaded not guilty to the joint charge.
Both also pleaded not guilty to the joint charge of affray in connection with the same incident.
Wells and Watterson were released on conditional bail to appear for trial at Plymouth Crown Court on June 27.
They must not go within 100 metres of the takeaway.
This is Plymouth
Showing posts with label Plymouth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Plymouth. Show all posts
January 04, 2012
August 02, 2011
Takeaway targeted by EDL mob
A terrified Kurdish family were forced to barricade themselves inside a kebab shop as a mob allegedly shouted racist abuse outside.
One person threw a glass into the Istanbul Kebab shop in Exeter Street as violence spread from a nearby pub yesterday afternoon. The family said the glass, which smashed on a counter, could have hit a baby in a car seat in the shop. Four or five members of the family say they had to push against their shop door to stop a similar number of people, including women, forcing their way in.
One woman family member, who did not want to be identified, said: "I was extremely frightened. They grabbed my mother's arm and tried to pull her out of the door."
The family said the group, thought to have been in the nearby Wild Coyote pub, were shouting 'EDL, EDL' and vile racist abuse. The far-right English Defence League (EDL) set off from the same pub for a march through the city centre three weeks ago.
Police were last night questioning four men from Plymouth aged 27, 28, 33 and 43, arrested at the scene – two on suspicion of affray, one for threatening behaviour and one for suspected criminal damage. About 20 officers, with dogs and some equipped with Tasers, responded to calls from passing motorists. The family said that they had been subjected to racist abuse for most of the afternoon.
The woman said that the incident came to a head when a group of four or five people came to the entrance of the shop and began chanting. She added that someone threw a glass which smashed on the counter, sending fragments over nearby food. The woman estimated that food worth about £1,000 would have to be thrown away. The takeaway was forced to close.
Insp Robin Loveridge said: "A couple of passing motorists reported disorder coming from the Wild Coyote pub. As officers arrived, it escalated and we have made four arrests. We are treating this as a serious public disorder. We have made house to house enquiries and are looking at CCTV, hoping to identify as many witnesses as we can."
He said dogs and a Taser were deployed, though the device was not used, to gain control. Insp Loveridge said staff voluntarily closed the pub after the incident.
This is Plymouth
Cheers to NewsHound for the heads-up
One person threw a glass into the Istanbul Kebab shop in Exeter Street as violence spread from a nearby pub yesterday afternoon. The family said the glass, which smashed on a counter, could have hit a baby in a car seat in the shop. Four or five members of the family say they had to push against their shop door to stop a similar number of people, including women, forcing their way in.
One woman family member, who did not want to be identified, said: "I was extremely frightened. They grabbed my mother's arm and tried to pull her out of the door."
The family said the group, thought to have been in the nearby Wild Coyote pub, were shouting 'EDL, EDL' and vile racist abuse. The far-right English Defence League (EDL) set off from the same pub for a march through the city centre three weeks ago.
Police were last night questioning four men from Plymouth aged 27, 28, 33 and 43, arrested at the scene – two on suspicion of affray, one for threatening behaviour and one for suspected criminal damage. About 20 officers, with dogs and some equipped with Tasers, responded to calls from passing motorists. The family said that they had been subjected to racist abuse for most of the afternoon.
The woman said that the incident came to a head when a group of four or five people came to the entrance of the shop and began chanting. She added that someone threw a glass which smashed on the counter, sending fragments over nearby food. The woman estimated that food worth about £1,000 would have to be thrown away. The takeaway was forced to close.
Insp Robin Loveridge said: "A couple of passing motorists reported disorder coming from the Wild Coyote pub. As officers arrived, it escalated and we have made four arrests. We are treating this as a serious public disorder. We have made house to house enquiries and are looking at CCTV, hoping to identify as many witnesses as we can."
He said dogs and a Taser were deployed, though the device was not used, to gain control. Insp Loveridge said staff voluntarily closed the pub after the incident.
This is Plymouth
Cheers to NewsHound for the heads-up
July 12, 2011
Traders raise concerns at route taken by EDL march
Businesses have raised concerns over the decision to allow the English Defence League's protest march at the Barbican over the weekend.
As hundreds of people enjoyed the scene and historic part of the city, many voiced their dismay at the large police presence and the slogan-chanting of the EDL. One shopkeeper – who asked not to be named – said: "They are allowed to march, that's democracy. But why march them along here, where all our tourists are, where our businesses are trying to show the best of Plymouth?"
Professor David Wheeler, who chairs the Waterfront Partnership, witnessed the march as it travelled the length of Southside Street and onto Madeira Road. He expressed his "serious disappointment" that the march had been "routed through the touristic heart of the city."
He said: "The waterfront businesses are multi-cultural in ownership and in their customer base. As the showcase of an international marine city, the Barbican should not be used for demonstrations that many would find divisive and offensive. I was especially concerned that children on the Barbican might have found the tone of the demonstration frightening and that Race Week business could suffer. I will be writing to the police authorities asking for information on how such demonstrations can be prevented in the future."
A police spokesman said: "There was consultation between both march organisers and the police concerning the route of their processions. There were inevitably going to be some parts of the community who did not want either march to go through their respective area. However, we are duty bound to respect the right to peaceful protest and that meant accommodating both marches in the best way possible by lessening impact on the local community wherever we could.
"Initial feedback from many areas of the community concerning the police operation on Saturday has been very positive and we would thank all residents for their co-operation in helping this process."
A 28-year-old is due before magistrates on July 20 charged with possession of an offensive weapon. Four more men arrested on public order offences and another man arrested on suspicion of assault have been released on police bail pending further inquiries.
This is Plymouth
July 09, 2011
Three arrests as EDL and UAF march through Plymouth
Three people were arrested as far-right group the English Defence League and anti-fascist group United Against Fascism marched through Plymouth today.
The rally and counter-rally were heavily policed and passed without incident, according to city officers.
EDL estimated they had 200 people at the event although other reports put the figure between 120 and 150. UAF claimed to have 500 people at their counter-event although figures of 300 to 400 are reported. There were 400 police at the events.
Devon and Cornwall Police closely monitored both peaceful protests and ensured the communities of Plymouth were allowed to go about their normal business as much as possible. Traffic was kept moving in the city centre throughout the day by what officers described as 'a proportionate policing operation which was welcomed by the community'. The marches began shortly after 1pm and were completed by 3.30pm.
Superintendent Craig Downham said: “This was a considerable policing operation and my hope is that the public felt reassured by the number of police officers and PCSOs on the streets talking to them. Our aim was to lessen the impact of the marches as much as possible while allowing their right to peaceful protest. With only three arrests and no incidents of note, this should be deemed a success.”
Officers from Devon and Cornwall, Avon and Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire police were all involved in the operation which also involved mounted units from Avon and Somerset.
A 28-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon, a 45-year-old man on suspicion of breach of the peace and a 25-year-old man for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possession of cannabis. All three men currently remain in police custody.
Supt Downham added: “We are experienced in policing large public events and today’s activity was no different. What it does do is give us a chance to test our operational capabilities as well as build on the close working relationship we have with our other forces regionally. It was a demonstration that we can deal with large numbers and keep our communities running as normal as much as possible, while ensuring people feel safe and supported throughout.”
This is Plymouth
The rally and counter-rally were heavily policed and passed without incident, according to city officers.
EDL estimated they had 200 people at the event although other reports put the figure between 120 and 150. UAF claimed to have 500 people at their counter-event although figures of 300 to 400 are reported. There were 400 police at the events.
Devon and Cornwall Police closely monitored both peaceful protests and ensured the communities of Plymouth were allowed to go about their normal business as much as possible. Traffic was kept moving in the city centre throughout the day by what officers described as 'a proportionate policing operation which was welcomed by the community'. The marches began shortly after 1pm and were completed by 3.30pm.
Superintendent Craig Downham said: “This was a considerable policing operation and my hope is that the public felt reassured by the number of police officers and PCSOs on the streets talking to them. Our aim was to lessen the impact of the marches as much as possible while allowing their right to peaceful protest. With only three arrests and no incidents of note, this should be deemed a success.”
Officers from Devon and Cornwall, Avon and Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire police were all involved in the operation which also involved mounted units from Avon and Somerset.
A 28-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon, a 45-year-old man on suspicion of breach of the peace and a 25-year-old man for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possession of cannabis. All three men currently remain in police custody.
Supt Downham added: “We are experienced in policing large public events and today’s activity was no different. What it does do is give us a chance to test our operational capabilities as well as build on the close working relationship we have with our other forces regionally. It was a demonstration that we can deal with large numbers and keep our communities running as normal as much as possible, while ensuring people feel safe and supported throughout.”
This is Plymouth
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