BNP gathers to back man facing race charges

| Thursday, 21 December 2006 Source: icBerkshire

THE British National Party was out in full support of a man charged with racially motivated crime on Wednesday, while police waited in the background in case of any disturbance.

John Hayes, 44, of Hanover Way, Windsor,was at Bracknell Magistrates Court charged with a racially or religiously aggravated public disorder,which was allegedly committed on October 6.

The BNP members, who had travelled from all over England packed into the courtroom to support Mr Hayes, who pleaded not guilty.

The pre-trial review lasted no more than two minutes and Mr Hayes will now stand trial on June 19.

Speaking outside the court, Roger Robertson, regional officer for the BNP in the South East, said: "I do not understand why there are so many police here. I don't know what on earth they think we are going do. We are here to give support to Mr Hayes, who served our country in the Irish Guards - which is not serving him in his hour of need."

Mark Cooper,from Worcester,an ex-marine and member of the BNP,added: "There appear to be no witnesses to back up the prosecution and we are going to find out the truth. Most of the people here with the BNP are ex-military.

The party members outside the court also took their opportunity under the spotlight to show their opposition to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Peter Mullins, regional officer for the BNP in the South West, read an extract from Rudyard Kipling's The Young British Soldier,written in the 19th century.

He claimed: "Although the poem was written many years ago, it still has resonance with what our soldiers are going through. 'When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains, And the women come out to cut up what remains, Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains, An' go to your Gawd like a soldier,go, go,go like a soldier.'"

After the court case, the crowds dispersed without any disturbances.