BNP supporter's ban from street after racist slur

Cambridge News by Jo Deeks | Monday, 14 September 2009 | Click here for original article

A 60-YEAR-OLD man declared himself to be "BNP and proud" after subjecting neighbours to racist abuse.

John Chappell told a Cambridge-born man with Caribbean origins to "go back where he came from", a court heard.

The attack occured in Newmarket after the man was asked if he had been delivering British National Party (BNP) leaflets.

When neighbours leapt to the defence of victim Lewis Wilford-Gittens, Chappell began spitting on them and threatened to set fire to their homes.

Chappell, who lives on a houseboat in Upware, Cambridgeshire, admitted charges of racially aggravated harassment, racially aggravated common assault and disorderly behaviour when he appeared before magistrates at Bury St Edmunds .

Magistrates made an exclusion order banning Chappell from going to Sassoon Close, in Newmarket, for the next six months, or contacting Lewis or Robert Wilford-Gittens or Nicola Rayner.

He was also ordered to pay them £75 each in compensation and made the subject of a six-month community order and a six-month supervision requirement, including that he tackles alcohol issues.

Rosalind Clark, prosecuting, told the court Chappell's partner Derek Birch lived at Sassoon Close, Newmarket, and in June was found in the front garden of the house opposite by Lewis Wilford-Gittens.

Chappell shouted threats to him and told him to "go back" to his country.

Mr Wilford-Gittens said he was born in Cambridge, although his father was from Trinidad and his mother from Cyprus, and asked Chappell if he had put BNP leaflets through their door.

Chappell replied that he was "BNP and proud".

Robert Wilford-Gittens, Lewis' father, came out and a mother with her nine-year-old daughter also witnessed Chappell calling both men racist names and spitting at Mr Wilford-Gittens senior.

Nicola Rayner, another neighbour, said when she challenged Chappell, he threatened to kill her dog and set fire to her house.

Lyndon Davies, defending, said his client had a background of difficulties with neighbours and had suffered homophobia.

Sue Hughes, chairman of the bench, said: "This sort of behaviour is entirely unacceptable, and we are particularly concerned that this was witnessed by a 9-year-old girl."

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