Watford FC's Diversity Officer Fighting For Her Job After Race Assault

Station Assault: John-Jules

A drunken Watford FC diversity officer, who screamed: “Punjabi bitch,” at a train station employee during a ticket barrier row is facing internal club disciplinary proceedings and the possible sack, a court heard today.

University graduate Ebonnie-Rose John-Jules, 23, the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer for the Championship club’s Community Sports & Education Trust was sentenced at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

She was travelling with friend Naomi Caruana, 23, at 6.30pm on May 5, last year when they got into an ugly row at Southall station with TfL employee Sasha Da Cunha, who was aided by her colleague Tom Kakeeto.

John-Jules, of Towers Road, Southall, who has a Master’s degree in International Sports Management from the Global Institute of Sport fought the charges for a year, but eventually admitted her guilt on the day of her trial.

She pleaded guilty to assaulting and using threatening behaviour towards Mr Kakeeto and using racially-aggravated threatening behaviour towards Ms Caruana.

Prosecutor David Burns told the magistrates today: “It appears this defendant and her friend were involved in an argument with a female ticket barrier employee.

“A second employee, who was finishing his shift and heard the shouting says he was attacked by this defendant and her friend, with multiple punches thrown to his face and body, causing minor injuries.

“He sought refuge in a staff area and was followed by the defendants and they banged on the door, shouting threats.

“Ms John-Jules is heard referring to the female complainant as a ‘Punjabi bitch.’

Sasha Da Cunha & Tom Kakeeto

“The male complainant has also made a victim impact statement.”

In his statement Mr Kakeeto said: “During the incident I was scared and fearful. It was a shock to be attacked like that and uncalled for.

“I do not wear my uniform to and from work anymore so I am not recognised and it has knocked my confidence.”

At the earlier court hearing, when John-Jules was originally to stand trial the court heard she also shouted: “Go back to your country, you bloody Indians.”

On that occasion the court was also told Mr Kakeeto attracted the wrath of the two young woman when he asked them to be civil, with John-Jules kicking his bike into him, before punching him to the face.

Today, her lawyer Miren Patel said: “She pleaded guilty on the day of her trial so she will be afforded some credit. She has expressed genuine remorse.

“Unfortunately, earlier that day she had gone to a bottomless brunch with her friend.

“She is not a drinker, but had a fair amount and at the station there was an issue with going through the ticket barrier because it would not accept the ticket she had on her phone.

“She got frustrated that her phone did not open the barrier and Mr Kakeeto’s bike was blocking the barrier and he took hold of her and took her to the floor.

“So there is an element of provocation, there was grabbing and she has reacted to this and by her own admission she has gone overboard and should not have reacted in the way she reacted.

“She does say ‘stupid Punjabi’ and there is a gap in what she is saying and then says ‘bitch.’

“She has reacted in frustration due to the circumstances and wishes to apologise to the victims.

“She is employed, but is undergoing disciplinary action and that action is dependent on the sentence today.

“There is a pre-sentence report and a mental health report. She does have a vulnerability and even though she has not been diagnosed she is on anti-depressants.

“In the process of being grabbed and put to the ground she has suffered an injury herself,” explained Mr Patel.

“She has been back to the station several times since and there have been no incidents. It is the closest station to her home, her local station that she uses to get to work.

“She has got a disciplinary hearing and that decision is quite soon.

“She may not be in employment and I ask the court to deal with her as if she was unemployed and keep any financial penalties to a minimum.”

Bench chairwoman Marina Lobanov-Rostovsky announced: “We will follow the recommendation in the pre-sentence report.”

She told John-Jules: “You will have a probation officer you will be in contact with and if you breach these conditions they can be increased and you can be sent to prison.”

John-Jules was placed on a twelve-month Community Order, which includes a ten-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 10-12 mental health treatment sessions.

She was also ordered to pay a £162 fine; £100 compensation to Mr Kakeeto, plus £85 costs.     

John-Jules, who graduated from the University of East London with a degree in Sports Physical Education and Development, has a previous conviction in 2022 for threatening behaviour.

She began her full-time role at Watford FC in April, last year, weeks before this offence, after a period employed by Children with Cancer UK as a Sports Events Administrator.

Her co-defendant Caruana, of Renaissance Court, Prince Regent Road, Hounslow pleaded guilty to assaulting both Mr Kakeeto and Ms Da Cunha and also damaging the male victim’s EarPods.

She was sentenced to a twelve-month community order, which includes 70 hours community service work up to five days of rehabilitation and must pay a £50 fine.

Caruana was also ordered to pay a total of £120 compensation to Mr Kakeeto; £50 compensation to Ms Da Cunha, plus £85 costs and a £114 victim surcharge.