A racist yob from Harlow who was branded a "disgrace to the values of this country" after making Nazi salutes and unleashing a torrent of anti-semitic abuse in a London pub has failed in a bid to have his prison sentence reduced.

John Patrick Hennigan (46), of Long Banks, Harlow, was caged for 21 months after he was convicted at the Old Bailey in October of breaching an anti-social behaviour order for the seventh time.

He has now lost his application to have the sentence cut when judges at the Court of Appeal ruled it was "richly deserved".

Judge Michael Stokes QC said Hennigan was barred from using foul, threatening, racist or abusive language under the terms of an ASBO imposed in 2005.

But he flouted the order when he went to The Magpie pub at Bishopsgate in central London – from which he had been barred twice before – in February of last year.

"He had been seen to make Nazi salutes and engaged in racist and anti-semitic language and, when the manager required him to leave, he resisted", said the judge.

Hennigan continued to make racist remarks and started singing an offensive song associated with the English Defence League. When he was told the police had been called he continued to resist and said "If I were a Jew, you wouldn't be doing this."

Hennigan also hurled abuse at police officers, calling one a "f***** pathetic little creature" as he was arrested.

In his grounds for appeal, Hennigan claimed the trial judge over-rated the seriousness of the breach and had imposed a sentence which he described as "manifestly excessive". But Judge Stokes, sitting with Lord Justice Leveson and Mr Justice Nicol, rejected the appeal, saying:

"Hennigan's behaviour in a crowded pub could have led to serious disorder. He takes no notice of court orders, which is in itself a serious aggravating feature, and a significant custodial sentence was inevitable in this case.

"We have considered the grounds of appeal but reject arguments that the judge erred. This sentence was not wrong in principle or manifestly excessive; on the contrary, it was fully justified and richly deserved."

Harlow Star, 8 February 2013

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A financial adviser who aimed grossly offensive tweets at Muslims and Pakistanis was told he had "thinking deficiencies and old racist views".

Ricky Lee Davies of St Thomas, Swansea, committed the Twitter offence after watching a television documentary about Muslim extremism.

Prosecutor Jonathan Coombs said Davies, who pleaded guilty to a charge under the 2003 Communications Act, told police he had wanted to get a reaction. Mr Coombs said: "He accepted his friends from ethnic minorities would not be too pleased, but that it was a bit of banter." He said the messages concerned "would seem to be directed primarily at the Muslim community and Pakistani nationality".

Defending, Dan Heard said his client had used extreme language but argued that its effect on recipients was minimal. People who responded to the tweets, he said, "referred to him as 'silly boy' and things of that nature". He said the 20-year-old had no particular issue with any religion or race, and that his tweets had been in regard to extremism, terrorism and poppy-burning.

He said: "What he has tried – but monumentally failed – to do is to enter into a debate. He used ill-advised language and failed to articulate what might otherwise have been a proper debate. And that has effectively reduced itself to name-calling."

Wales Probation officer Sharon Griffiths said Davies had let his anger get the better of him following the documentary. "He has made a concerted effort to increase his knowledge about other cultures," she said.

Swansea Magistrates' Court heard that Davies had a previous conviction when, as a juvenile, he referred to a man with a turban and beard outside Sainsbury's as "bin Laden" during an altercation.

The defendant, of St Leger Crescent, was yesterday handed an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, with a supervision requirement for 12 months. He was also told to do 150 hours of unpaid work and pay £85 costs.

Chairwoman of the bench Chantal Patel said: "You clearly have thinking deficiencies and old racist views."

South Wales Evening Post, 29 January 2013

As we have previously pointed out, Davies tweeted his enthusiastic support for the English Defence League and its leader Stephen Lennon, who he described as a "hero".

The selection of vicious hate-filled comments that we identified from a quick trawl through Davies' Twitter account demonstrates that the defence's claim that he "had no particular issue with any religion or race" and his tweets "had been in regard to extremism, terrorism and poppy-burning" was an outright lie.

Davies expressed his relief at escaping a prison sentence in the following tweet:

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A Thatcham man was today (Weds) sentenced to three months' imprisonment after admitting to one count of racially aggravated harassment and a section 4 public order offence at Reading Magistrates' Court.

Rory Rowbottom, aged 21 of Poffley Place, pleaded guilty to the offences in connection with an incident in Newbury in October where a pig's head was discovered outside a mosque in Pound Street (pictured).

Deputy local police commander for the Newbury area, Ch Insp Lindsey Finch, said: "I welcome the outcome of the court case today, and hope that it serves as a reminder that racial harassment of any kind is totally unacceptable in today's society and will be dealt with as a priority by both the police and the courts.

"This kind of harassment will not be tolerated by the police, or by the community as a whole.

"It was heartening to see the response from other communities in West Berkshire who were equally distressed and horrified that this could happen to Muslims in Newbury.

"This was a particularly distressing crime, targeting a very respectful and close community in West Berkshire.

"The police response when alerted to this incident was swift and decisive, and a detailed and comprehensive investigation then followed.

"I also take this opportunity to remind people that they can continue to have confidence in reporting racial incidents to the police and that they will be investigated fully and respectfully."

A representative of the Newbury Mosque Committee, Lucky Nizami, said: "The mosque has been in Newbury for a number of years and this incident shocked members of the mosque because Newbury is such a close and tight-knit town.

"We cannot understand why someone would want to do such a thing and it has saddened many, many people. However the mosque committee is very grateful for the support and kindness shown by a large number of people from the Newbury area.

"Muslims in West Berkshire are a very respectful community who do not interfere in matters of faith for other local communities.

"The Muslim community is very tolerant of others' beliefs, but hold several things very close to them – those are the Koran, the Prophet and the Mosque.

"It was therefore beyond the understanding of the community why anyone would wish to insult them by directly attacking one of those – in this case, the Mosque.

"Police responded so effectively and respectfully to this incident, and have conducted a very thorough and wide reaching investigation.

"This positive and supportive response has further increased confidence that the police will continue to respond robustly if incidents are reported to them.

"This is also evident in the way that the community left all aspects of the investigation in the hands of the police and trusted that the outcome would be the right one.

"We are really pleased that the man who was responsible has appeared before the court and we accept the decision of the court."

Newbury Today, 23 January 2013

See also "EDLer Rory Rowbottom jailed for mosque pig's head", EDL News, 23 January 2013

After he appeared in court last month Rowbottom took to Facebook to express his displeasure at press reports of the case:

There would seem to be solid grounds for a further charge against Rowbottom, under Section 127(1) of the Communications Act 2003, which makes it an offence to send over a public electronic communications network a message that is "grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character". The offence carries a possible 6-month prison sentence.

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A former hospital worker involved with a far-right political group used Facebook to encourage people to petrol bomb an Indian takeaway at the centre of a major child abuse probe.

Carlisle Crown Court heard how Alan Clarke's reckless comments on the social networking site led to him being sacked by bosses at the city's Cumberland Infirmary.

He admitted using Facebook to collude with others in a way that could have encouraged people to commit criminal damage – namely by attacking the Spice of India takeaway in Botchergate, Carlisle.

Prosecutor Mark Lamberty described how the 27-year-old defendant had read about a police investigation into the systematic sexual abuse of young girls in the city. The man arrested for those offences – and later convicted and jailed for 15 years – was Spice of India's Bangladeshi boss Azad Miah.

Mr Lamberty outlined a Facebook conversation Clarke had with another man on October 4 last year.

One comment posted by Clarke stated: "People think I'm a racist because I'm always having a go at these lot. I think this is a good enough reason, don't you. Just remember this, curry lovers of Carlisle – if you get your takeaway from Spice of India, you are funding this sick [person's] habit of grooming young girls and worse. And if anyone feels the need to smash the place up, I won't stop you. Ha ha!"

Clarke added: "The place needs petrol bombed."

Police acted swiftly, advising staff at the takeaway to close, which they did. Officers then seized Clarke's computer from his Ridley Road home in Currock and arrested him. In his interview, he described himself as a "keyboard warrior."

"He said he knew what he put was wrong, but he was having a rant," continued Mr Lamberty. Clarke admitted being a member of the far right English Defence League (EDL), but insisted he did not intend the restaurant should actually be damaged. He accepted being reckless.

The court heard that Clarke's previous offences included one committed during a football match and causing criminal damage to the Lazeez Indian takeaway on Blackwell Road in Currock.

Claire Thomas, for Clarke, said: "He was at home recovering from a hernia operation and it's clear that he had too much time on his hands." She said he had not realised the seriousness of the position he put himself in.

Miss Thomas said Clarke had been introduced to the EDL through friends he met at football matches but he has no involvement whatsoever in that any more," said the barrister.

She added that as a result of his crime he had now lost his job at The Cumberland Infirmary, where he worked for eight years, and was at risk of losing his home if he could not find a job to pay for the mortgage he had.

Judge Batty told the defendant that, given his political leanings, his Facebook comments had an air of "triumphalism." He added: "Fortunately, people in Carlisle have a lot more sense than you appear to have and people in Carlisle let justice take its course rather than following idiots like you and other such idiots who are involved in the so-called English Defence League."

Judge Batty imposed a 12-month jail term, suspending it for two years; 200 hours unpaid work; and an electronically monitored night-time curfew for the next six months.

The former Spice of India is now called the Raj Mahal and is run by new management which has no connection with Azad Miah.

News & Star, 27 October 2012

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An EDL thug who stormed a peaceful protest before hurling a lit firework has walked free from court.

Anthony Crawford sparked pandemonium when he lobbed the explosive at anti-jubilee protesters as they gathered for a rally in Newcastle city centre.

It landed in the hood worn by Barnaby Drew, from Byker, Newcastle, who was left with burns after it exploded on his shoulder and set fire to his hair. The 19-year-old's pals patted down his body to stop it spreading, and the force of the blast burned a hole in his jumper. He was left partially deafened when the firework perforated his eardrum.

But now, after admitting one charge of assault by beating, Crawford, 22, of Elmway, Chester-le-Street, County Durham, has escaped a prison term after magistrates handed him a 15-week suspended sentence.

And they ordered Crawford to pay his victim £150 in compensation for the terrifying incident. Crawford joined a group of EDL protesters at the Rose & Crown pub, on Newcastle's Newgate Street, for a pre-arranged meeting on June 4.

Later he sparked mayhem when he threw two bottles and the firecracker as trouble flared during scuffles in front of shoppers at Newcastle's Grey's Monument where the EDL and anti-jubilee protesters clashed.

Sue Baker, prosecuting, told Newcastle Magistrates' Court: "He's thrown two bottles of water at the protestors and then a firework which caused minor injuries to Barnaby Drew."

Crawford's legal team told the court he was handed the lit firework before throwing it into the crowd and he had not intended to cause injury.

Crawford, who works two days a week as a volunteer, admitted one charge of assault by beating and one count of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear or provoke unlawful violence.

He was handed two 15-week sentences to run concurrently, suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to carry out 100 hours' unpaid work and was made the subject of a 12-month supervision order.

Evening Chronicle, 6 July 2012

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A man has admitted threatening to kill his neighbours and forcing his way into their Thornhill Lees home. Daniel Smith, 39, was told that he should expect a long jail term when he returns to Leeds Crown Court for sentencing on June 22.

On Wednesday, Smith admitted 10 offences linked to events in Victoria Road on August 26, 2011. They included burglary, common assault, affray, four counts of making threats to kill and two counts of possessing a knife.

He denied aggravated burglary and possessing a screwdriver as an offensive weapon – charges which he had faced at an earlier trial where a jury could not reach a verdict.

A re-trial had been ordered and was expected to start at the court on Wednesday morning. But when Smith entered guilty pleas to the majority of charges, the prosecution decided a second trial was not in the public interest.

Prosecutor Christopher Tehrani said the complainants in the case had been spoken to and agreed with that course of action.

Judge Guy Kearl QC told Smith: "This is going to result in a long sentence of imprisonment. I do, however, think it will be helpful to me if I can have the assistance and benefit of a pre-sentence report upon you." He said it would be in Smith’s interest to co-operate with the probation service while they prepared the report.

Smith was remanded into custody until his sentencing.

Dewsbury Reporter, 27 May 2012

See also Hope Not Hate, 28 May 2012

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