Pub Union Jacks Burned By Group Shouting 'Allahu Akbar'

Zaid Sami & Nour Sami

Three hooded and masked men, who tore down and burned two Union Jack flags from outside a pub while shouting “Allahu Akbar”, were responsible of an “attack on the British people,” a jury heard.

There were also shouts of “F*** the UK” and “Free Palestine”, from the trio the trial heard, who along with a mystery fourth suspect gathered around the flags in a nearby alleyway and set fire to them.

They are: brothers Zaid Sami, 21 and Nour Sami, 20, both of Faggs Road, Feltham and Omar Sukkar, 21, of Worton Road, Isleworth.

All three are on trial at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court, where they have all pleaded not guilty to the racially-aggravated criminal damage of the flags belonging to The Fox public house, Church Street, Twickenham on October 23, 2023.

Prosecutor Mark Mullins said: “This case is about the ripping down and burning of two Union Flags, which the prosecution asserts is an attack on the British people and their way of life and is therefore racially aggravated.

“Just after 6.00pm in the evening four young men ripped down two Union Jacks from The Fox public house and set fire to them.

“While they were burning the flags they were heard shouting: ‘Allahu Akbar’; ‘Free Palestine’ and ’Stop bombing children.’

Omar Sukkar

“CCTV evidence shows Sukkar climbing onto a noticeboard below one of the Union flags and Zaid Sami removing the other Union flag and they both damaged the poles and fixings.

“Moments later in a nearby alleyway there was a strong acrid smell as the burned the flags, say witnesses,” added Mr Mullins.

“The background is that on October 7, 2023 Hamas launched missiles from the Gaza Strip into Israel and an incursion that led to several hundred deaths and kidnappings.

“Then UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak gave a speech on October 19 that Israel had a right to defend itself and on October 23 he made a similar speech to the House of Commons.”

Landlord Paul Brace told the trial: “I had two Union Jack flags on poles. It is a very British street and we also have flags up during the rugby, the Six Nations via the Church Street Association.

“I felt it brightened the street up to have the national flags, even when there isn’t an event on.

‘It is a symbol of our country, what we stand for, our values and is a recognisable symbol around the world, very distinctive.

Fox Public House

“It was the flag flown at the Battle of Trafalgar and should be flown with a sense of pride.”

He was in his flat above the club when his deputy manager raised the alarm. “She phoned me in a state of distress and shock.

“Some men had been ripping at both flags from their holders, breaking the poles and they ran down the street.

“I followed them down the alleyway and saw four figures huddling over the flags and passing around what looked like a lighter and were struggling to get it going.

“I smelled a plastic burning smell like nylon and heard specifically ‘Allahu Akbar’. There were multiple voices saying it, they were all joining in.

“They were oblivious to me being there. I was tempted to intervene, but thought better of it.”

His 999 call was played to the jury, who also inspected the remains of the burned flags, and Mr Brace could be heard telling the operator: “Wether it’s terror-related or not, I don’t know.”

Landlord Paul Brace

Police were quickly on the scene and detained the three defendants, with a fourth suspect escaping and they repeated their shouts regarding Gaza and Israel while detained.

Local man Peter Lawlor was drinking outside the nearby Eel Pie public house and he told the jury: “Four lads walked past and one was wearing an Arab-style scarf, two had masks and another had a hood up and one of them said: ‘F*** the UK’.”

Mr Mullins continued: “The prosecution say they were all in a group acting together and Nour Sami was encouraging them and looking out even though he was not seen pulling down the flags.

“They were motivated due to hostility of that racial group, namely being British. Saying: ‘F*** the UK,’ and ‘Allahu Akbar’ showed hostility to being British.

“Their comments on arrest provides context to their actions,” the prosecutor told the jurors. “You may share these sentiments, but it led to these defendants going further.

“They turned against the very country they were part of. It was Britain’s support of Israel that prompted their actions.”

Trial continues……………

Dirty Deeds: Mystery Male Caught Pleasuring Himself On Underground

An AC/DC fan was snapped by a fellow tube train passenger pleasuring himself onboard a busy carriage travelling through west London.

British Transport Police (BTP) are now investigating.

Officers have released this mobile phone image taken by the opposite passenger and are appealing to the public to assist them identify the suspect.

At around 8.30pm on Thursday, July 16, a man boarded the District Line train at Earl’s Court Underground station.

He then began to touch himself inappropriately, continuing to do so until he left the train at Hammersmith Underground station.

He was wearing a green AC/DC hoodie; sunglasses; blue baseball cap; tight light-coloured trousers and black footwear. 

Officers would like to speak to the man in the image who they believe may have information that could help their investigation.

Anyone who recognises the man is asked to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 786 of 16 July.

Information can also be given to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Notorious Sexual Predator Locked-Up Again

A notorious sex offender, with multiple convictions, is starting a sentence of two years and three months imprisonment for groping a young woman at a railway station.

Neil Shorter, 56, of Bicester, Oxfordshire struck at Newbury station, Berkshire after initially asking the victim for directions.

He has previously been locked up for sexually assaulting females in a charity shop, McDonald's and other locations.

At Oxford Crown Court he was jailed for one count of sexual assault and an unrelated offence of stalking.

He was also handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years.

The court heard on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, Shorter deliberately engaged the woman in conversation as she waited for a train home from work.

He then returned and sexually assaulted her while her back was turned.

Shaken and upset, she sought help from a member of station staff and pointed out Shorter as the man who responsible.

Detectives later identified Shorter, who at the time was remanded in custody on the stalking offence.

He was arrested in prison on November 7, 2024 and was charged with the station sexual assault.

British Transport Police (BTP) Detective Constable Kirsty Birley said: “This was a shocking attack in broad daylight at a busy station.

“Before the attack Shorter can be seen pacing up and down the platform clearly seeking out the victim in what was a pre-planned assault.

“I commend the bravery of the woman for immediately reporting what happened and supporting our subsequent investigation, which has resulted in an additional sentence for a sexual predator.”

Victim's Earlobe Bitten Off During Chichester Station Attack

Police are hunting two shirtless suspects after a man's earlobe was bitten off during a violent unprovoked attack at Chichester railway station.

British Transport Police (BTP) have released these images of the males they are looking for.

Detectives are requesting the assistance of the public to help identify them.

The victim was assaulted at approximately 7.20pm on Friday, June 26 in the railway station car park.

Members of the public intervened and the victim was later taken to hospital for treatment.

Officers believe the men in the images could have information that may assist their enquiries.

Anyone who recognises them is asked to text BTP on 61016, or call 0800 40 50 40, using the reference 705 of 26 June.

Information can also be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

That's Why They Call It The Blues: Suspect Hunted After Female Tube Passenger Molested

A female tube train passenger was molested by a mystery man as she stepped off a carriage at busy London Bridge Underground Station.

British Transport Police (BTP) detectives have released these front and rear images of an unknown male they want to speak to.

BTP are treating the incident as an offence of sexual assault.

The woman was travelling on a Northern Line train at approximately 5.40pm on Friday, August 7 and was departing the service when she was sexually assaulted.

Officers believe the man in the images could have information that may assist their enquiries.

Anyone who recognises him is asked to text BTP on 61016, or call 0800 40 50 40, using the reference 593 of 7 August.

Information can also be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Ex Southern Water Boss In Court Accused Of Plot To Avoid Fines

Matthew Wright leaving court

The former Chief Executive of Southern Water appeared in court yesterday charged with conspiracy to defraud the Environment Agency and The Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat) regarding effluent testing.

Matthew Reginald Wright, 61, of Doyle House, Derby Road, Haslemere, Surrey appeared in the dock at Bromley Magistrates’ Court.

He and three other employees of the company are charged with a conspiracy to deliberately implement artificial no-flow events at waste water treatment works operated by the company to make testing impossible under the industry’s Operating Self-Monitoring (OSM) scheme.

The company potentially avoided industry fines totalling up to £45m.

They are: Philip Barker, 58, of Firtops, Grove Lane, West Chiltington, West Sussex.

Mark Gregory, 64, of Newton Road, Southampton.

Clive Bernard  Massey, 66, of Sunnybank, Brandhill, Craven Arms, Shropshire.

The Environment Agency are bringing the prosecution and were represented by Andrew Marshall during the short hearing in the packed courtroom.

The alleged conspiracy was between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2017.

Three other Southern Water employees also face separate charges, regarding failure to comply with or contravening environmental permit conditions.

They are: Mark Butler, 47, of London road, Sayers C
ommon, Hassocks, West Sussex, who faces eight charges relating to six wastewater treatment works in Kent and East Sussex on various dates between March 15, 2015 and November 27, 2024.

David James, 60, of Chippers Road, Worthing, West Sussex, who faces one count, relating to Beaulieu Village Wastewater Treatment Works, Hampshire or about November 23, 2016.

Terry Stephens, 68, of Fontwell Mews, Cowplain, Waterlooville, who faces one count relating to Horsham Wastewater Treatment Works on or about June 9, 2015.

Southern Water itself is charged with 100 offences of failing to comply with or contravene environmental permit conditions at various sites between 2013 and 2017 in relation to the OSM scheme.

The company also face three similar charges, separately listed.

The company faces a further five charges of discharging untreated water, namely sewage into Faversham Creek Faversham; diesel fuel and sewage at Swalecliffe Wastewater Treatment Works; sewage at Diamond Road Combined Sewer Overflow, Whitstable and sewage at Brook Road Wastewater Pumping Station.

Only three of the defendants, Wright, Gregory and Butler appeared in person, with the remainder remotely linked in.

All seven defendants were bailed to appear at Maidstone Crown Court, along with Southern Water on October 9.

"Devious" North African Thief Used Old Distraction Trick To Nick £175K Suitcase

A professional Algerian thief, who targeted a female Eurostar passenger and took her suitcase containing £175,000 worth of valuables, has been jailed.

Bilal Arbaoui, 32, employed a well-used distraction method of an accomplice approaching the victim with a tissue, claiming her trousers were soiled.

As the woman wiped herself down he took her gold coloured hard-shelled suitcase, which contained designer bags, watches and jewellery.

At Inner London Crown Court Arbaoui, of Neasden Lane, Neasden received twenty-two months imprisonment after pleading guilty to theft.

On Saturday April 11, the victim arrived at St Pancras station on the Eurostar from Paris and had made her way to meet her pre ordered taxi. 

As she was looking for the cab she was approached by someone with a tissue who claimed her trousers were dirty.

As she wiped at the mark on her clothing, Arbaoui made off with her suitcase.

When she turned around the case was missing and she caught sight of Arbaoui running away with it. 

She flagged down an officer at the station and reported what had happened.

He was subsequently arrested by British Transport Police (BTP) officers and initially denied in was him in CCTV images of the theft shown to him in the police interview.

BTP Sergeant James Kingsberry said: “This was a devious and pre-planned distraction theft which caused the victim great distress.

“We work tirelessly to prevent theft on the rail network and are lucky to work in an environment with exceptional CCTV coverage which helped us apprehend Arbaoui and put him before the courts.

“Now behind bars, I hope Arbaoui realises that we have eyes everywhere and we’ll stop at nothing to bring thieves like him to justice.”

Wok & Roll: Boiling Oil Thrown By Korean Cook

Yoo admits throwing boiling oil

A Korean restaurant cook threw a wok full of boiling oil over the head chef during a petty kitchen row, inflicting serious burns, a jury heard today.

Jinhee Yoo, 37, doused Lim Gye at the Jin Go Gae restaurant in Burlington Road, New Malden - inflicting burns that required skin grafts.

She is claiming self-defence, insisting she feared being stabbed by Ms Gye, who was chopping onions at the time, Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court heard.

Yoo, of The Avenue, Worcester Park, Leeds has pleaded not guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm, with intent, at the restaurant on May 23, 2022.

Prosecutor Jonathan Rosen told the trial both women had previously worked together at the restaurant in 2017, with Yoo in the senior role.

When she returned she was now under head chef Ms Gye, who criticised her on the day of the attack for leaving the spice pots untidy.

There was a confrontation between the pair, with Yoo grabbing the head chef’s hair and them both rolling around on the kitchen floor.

Ms Gye bit Yoo’s finger in self-defence and they were pulled apart by other staff.

However, not long after they were again in the kitchen together following the lunchtime rush.

 

“She was boiling four to five litres of oil in the wok on the stove and Ms Gye was chopping onions,” explained Mr Rosen.

“They were back-to-back in the galley-style kitchen and Ms Gye thought it was odd she was boiling oil as there were no customers in the restaurant.”

Suddenly, Yoo shouted in Korean: “I can’t take it any longer,” turned and threw the wok full of boiling oil over the victim, burning her back, shoulder, chest, neck and arm.

Ms Gye recalled see Yoo standing there with the empty wok, challenging her to another fight and blocking her escape from the kitchen.

Ms Gye took a cold shower before being taken to hospital by the restaurant boss’s daughter, where she was treated for burns and blisters.

There were blisters to 70% of her back and 12% of her body was treated for burns, with a skin graft taken from her thigh during a second operation.

Yoo claimed a large chunk was bitten out of her finger by Ms Gye and she simply grabbed the closest thing to defend herself from a potential knife attack.

“This was a purposeful and deliberate action,” said Mr Rosen. “She had been boiling the oil for five minutes and there was no threat from a knife.”

The trial, which is expected to last approximately one week, continues….

Dirty Dozen: Delivery Driver Stays On Road Despite 12 Penalty Points

A delivery driver facing a six-month disqualification kept his licence after telling magistrates this week:“Financially it would be  catastrophic,” if he was off the road.

Richard Simpson, 70, already had two speeding offences on his licence, which carry a total of six penalty points when he was prosecuted again.

The former Croydon resident claimed he did not receive notice of jumping a red light after failing to update his logbook when moving to the south coast in June, 2024.

Simpson, of Albany Villas, Hove pleaded guilty to failing to give the identity of the driver when his black Audi failed to stop at a pedestrian crossing red light in Brighton Road, Croydon.

Croydon Magistrates' Court heard pedestrians were still on the crossing when the vehicle failed to stop for the red light and the incident was reported by a member of the public.

A letter asking for the identification of the driver was posed to Simpson's old address and when he did not respond he was prosecuted for that offence and the original red light charge was dropped.

The offence carries six penalty points, making Simpson subject to a six-month disqualification with a total of twelve penalty points on his licence, but he successfully argued he would suffer 'exceptional hardship' if banned.

Simpson told the court he was eventually informed of the prosecution by the new occupants of his former Croydon home, conceding he failed to update his details.

He described himself as a man of good character, who has driver for over forty-eight years.

Simpson told the magistrates he has a full-time job delivering specialist auto parts “up an down” the A23 and in London, driving approximately 120 miles per day.

“I wouldn't have a job,” he told the court, if he was subject to a disqualification. “I would be terminated.”

He said he is committed to £13,000 worth of work on his house, including heating and windows and needs his licence to drive the one hour to regular hospital appointments.

Bench Chairman Richard Hay announced: “It is exceptional hardship,” saving Simpson from immediate disqualification.

He was given six penalty points and was fined £872, with £349 costs.

'A Drive & Nicking': Simple Minds Drummer Admits Speeding

Up On The Perpwalk: Gaynor arriving at court

Simple Minds drummer Mel Gaynor is facing another speeding ban after being caught breaking the limit yet again, a court heard yesterday.

The 66 year-old musician, who played on the Scottish band’s biggest hits, including Number One ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me) appeared at Croydon Magistrates’ Court.

He was determined to fight the charge and argue the speed camera was not properly calibrated, but gave up when the prosecution produced evidence it was.

Balham-born Gaynor, who lives in the over-55's community The Clock House, High Road, Byfleet pleaded guilty to driving his Alfa Romeo 159 at 41mph in a 30mph zone on August 3, last year in Green Wrythe Lane, Carshalton.

The court heard he was also banned for six months for speeding on the motorway on April 18, 2022; received six penalty points for motorway speeding on July 17, 2024 and another three points for speeding on August 27, last year.

Those nine points, plus the minimum Gaynor will receive for the latest offence make him subject to a six-month disqualification.

However, the veteran rocker will claim any disqualification will cost him ‘exceptional hardship’ and he will return to court to argue his case next year.

Gaynor drummed on hits including ‘Alive & Kicking’; ‘Glittering Prize’; ‘Waterfront’; ’Speed Your Love To Me’ and ‘Sanctify Yourself’.

“I’d like to say I’m not a dangerous driver, I am a safe driver,” Gaynor told the magistrates. “I have to take my grandson to medical appointments and school as well.”

Prosecutor Arama Thompson told the court it was 4.53pm when Gaynor was caught on the speed camera and he confirmed he was the driver when the notice of intended prosecution was sent to his address.

Don't You (Take A Picture Of Me): Gaynor outside court

“I also have the calibration certificate that has been sent through from July, 2025 to July, this year.

Gaynor had originally claimed the speed camera must have been inoperative because his own in car sensor did not alert him to exceeding the speed limit.

Chairman Richard Hay didn't promise Gaynor any miracles and told him: “It has to be ‘exceptional hardship’. When you get to twelve penalty points you are liable to be disqualified.

“To go beyond that we need to see evidence and we will adjourn the case for you to bring your evidence of what you are going to be relying on to avoid getting disqualified.

“If you have great exceptional hardship you will not be disqualified.”