The face of a 'racist thug'

Plymouth Herald | Friday, 17 February 2012 | Click here for original article

'DANGEROUS': Ricky Moon was found guilty of racially-aggravated assault

A MAN described as a "dangerous and racist thug" by police has been jailed for 30 months after he abused and attacked a Sudanese man in the city centre.

Ricky Moon, aged 25 and of Lockyer's Quay, Bretonside, was recently found guilty after a two-day trial of racially-aggravated assault causing actual bodily harm to Saleh Rashid, 23.

Moons' co-defendant, Aghdas Pye, was given a 12-month suspended sentence.

Acting Insp Daniel Ivey, of Plymouth police's diverse communities team, said the attack highlighted how much more needed to be done in the city to tackle racism and that police were "determined to bring about convictions like this".

The jury heard that on March 4 last year, Mr Rashid was approached by a group of four people as he stood on a corner near Plymouth Pannier Market.

The last male, Moon, deliberately hit him with his elbow as he passed, causing him to drop the tobacco for the cigarette he was rolling.

There was a confrontation and Moon, who has a history of violent attacks, spat in Mr Rashid's face two or three times, covering his glasses with spittle.

Moon called him several offensive names beginning with "black" and spat in his face again.

Pye asked him to apologise to Moon, and then started swearing at him.

Both began hitting him, and as Mr Rashid and Moon wrestled on the ground, Pye repeatedly kicked Mr Rashid.

Yesterday, Judge Francis Gilbert QC heard that Moon had gone on to commit further offences while on bail.

He twice phoned his ex-partner, breaching a non-molestation order.

And, in another incident, he assaulted two police officers.

Crown Prosecution Service prosecutor David Gittins said that on October 1 last year, a taxi driver picked Moon up and took him to Barne Barton.

Moon went into a house to get the £7.90 fare, but emerged and accused the driver of stealing his cider.

He then threw a punch at the man, but missed.

The driver left his cab and called 999 from a nearby house, but Moon stole a yellow coin-holder and a mobile phone from the cab.

Police arrived and Pc Yvonne Rowley entered a house and found the items.

She then arrested Moon on suspicion of theft, but there was a struggle, Moon swore and told her: "I'm going to kick off."

He was Tasered, but this proved ineffective.

Moon was handcuffed, but hit Pc Rowley, who was wearing a stab vest, in the chest, then threw her to the pavement with force.

Her male colleague arrested Moon after a violent struggle in which Moon spat in his face.

Pc Rowley suffered a badly-sprained arm, which had to be splinted for a fortnight, nerve damage to her neck which affected her shoulder, plus grazes and bruises.

Moon later pleaded guilty to theft, threatening behaviour, criminal damage to the handcuffs, assault causing actual bodily harm and common assault.

Llewellyn Sellick, for Moon, said his client had been pepper-sprayed before struggling with Pc Rowley, and his head had struck the police car during the arrest.

Judge Gilbert said Moon had 10 previous convictions for using or threatening violence, including being sentenced to five years in a young offenders' institution in 2003 for causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

He jailed him for a total of 30 months, less eight days spent on remand.

Following the hearing Acting Insp Ivey said: "The lengthy sentence handed to Ricky Moon reflects the despicable crime he committed in broad daylight in our city centre, against a black person who merely happened across his path.

"This incident demonstrates how far we have yet to travel to eliminate racism and hatred in our city.

"You can rest assured that the police are absolutely determined to bring about convictions like this and I would like to thank one of our Hate Crime Detectives, Det Con Anne Rose, for her hard work and dedication in helping Mr Rashid to get justice.

"I am thankful that the jury determined Ricky Moon's guilt and that we have successfully managed to remove a dangerous and racist thug from our streets for a considerable period of time".

In a statement Mr Rashid said he was now looking to move away from Plymouth as he no longer felt safe here despite the jailing of Moon.

He said: "I feel that it might happen again and I have not gone out much since it happened.

"I was working in a factory in Plympton, but as a result of the attack and due to my injuries I had to take time off.

"Unfortunately, as a result of this I lost my job and have not been able to find work since.

"I am really happy with the work and support of Plymouth police and the city's Racial Equality Council."