Epping asylum hotel protests sees one man appear in court
District Judge Christopher Williams was told of a WhatsApp group with 600 members who were planning to attend the hotel.Hundreds of people gathered on Thursday, with a smaller group of people holding a pro-refugee demonstration at the same time.Elizabeth Connor, representing the Crown Prosecution Service, told the court the gathering of those opposing the housing of asylum seekers was initially peaceful, but "quickly escalated" into violent disorder, with fireworks, eggs and bottles being thrown.More than 100 police officers attended, Ms Connor said, and officers became "overwhelmed" by the protest.Ms Conner said Mr Smith - who works full-time for Waitrose - had attended the protest on Thursday and returned on the Sunday, when he was arrested after being identified on several pieces of footage.Defending Mr Smith, Richard Moughton said his client had attended for a "peaceful protest", and on the Thursday he had returned home before a police dispersal order was put in place.He is due to appear for a plea hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court on 18 August.
Another protest staged on Sunday was attended by more than 1,000 people, with projectiles thrown towards police vans blocking the hotel entrance.Mr Smith is the second person to appear before magistrates in connection with protests at the hotel.Keith Silk, 33, of Torrington Drive in Loughton, Essex, appeared before Southend Magistrates' Court on Monday to deny violent disorder, but entered no plea to another charge of criminally damaging a sign at the hotel by shaking it.He was released on conditional bail, forbidding him from entering Epping and attending any protest in the UK, and will also appear before Chelmsford Crown Court on 18 August.The demonstrations followed a man living in the hotel being charged with sexual assault, harassment and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity.Hadush Kebatu, 41, from Ethiopia, has denied the offences and was remanded in custody during a hearing on Thursday.Two Conservative MPs in Essex - Neil Hudson and Alex Burghart - called for the hotel to be closed, while the Tory leader of Epping Forest District Council, Chris Whitbread, described it as a "powder keg" situation.
Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
29 minutes ago
- The Sun
Teen woman, 18, suffers life-changing injuries after ‘getting hair caught in funfair ride'
A TEENAGER, 18, has been rushed to hospital with potentially life-changing injuries after her hair got caught in a funfair ride. Emergency services were called to Netley Marsh Steam and Craft Show at 10.53pm on Saturday. A bystander who helped the teen told the BBC: "One of the girl's friends came down and said how serious it was and some of us offered assistance. "It's very shocking it could happen on a fairground ride that young children go on. This must never happen again." A Health and Safety Executive spokesperson said the incident was "local authority enforced and with Hampshire police". 1 is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
Reuters
29 minutes ago
- Reuters
Trump says US is close to reaching a trade deal with China
TURNBERRY, Scotland, July 27 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday his administration was close to reaching a trade deal with China, but gave no other details. "We're very close to a deal with China. We really sort of made a deal with China, but we'll see how that goes," Trump told reporters at the start of a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Scotland.
Daily Mail
29 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Woman, 18, is left with life-changing injuries after 'her hair got stuck in fun fair ride'
A woman, 18, has been left with life-changing injuries after her hair got stuck in a fun fair ride. The horrifying incident happened at Netley Marsh Steam and Craft Show in the village of Netley Marsh, Hampshire, just before 11pm yesterday. It came after the woman reportedly got her hair trapped in a set of moving rollers on the floor of the Fun House ride, a witness said, according to The Standard. Nurse Emma Perry luckily happened to be on hand to help when the girl's friend rushed off the ride desperate for assistance with attending to her terrible injuries. The practitioner, 51, who works at nearby Southampton General Hospital, said the woman was bleeding, 'screaming' and 'clearly very distressed' after 'three-quarters' of her scalp had been 'ripped off', The Echo reports. This is known as a 'degloving incident', when skin and soft tissue are torn from the muscle, connective tissue or bone underneath them. The highly serious injury often causes massive blood loss and tissue death - and can be fatal. Emergency services rushed the teen to hospital, after a section of the ride had to be cut by firefighters to extract her. Event organiser Charles Cole dubbed it a 'freak accident', which is under investigation. He continued: 'Nobody wants to hurt anyone, and we are a family business. Last night was very upsetting, especially for the man who owns the ride. 'Safety is our priority, and we sympathise with the girl and her parents.' The ride was closed for the rest of the three-day fair, which ended today. But a post on the fair's Facebook page said today: 'Good morning from day three of the show. 'Despite what you may have read or seen online, we are open and look forward to seeing you all!' Nurse Ms Perry, who had been a visitor at the funfair with her 17-year-old daughter, recalled she 'cradled' the girl's head and talked to her as first responders worked. She described the incident as 'traumatic', adding: 'I stayed with her, that is all I did really. I really feel for her and her family, they are the main priority.' The nurse questioned if funfairs like this are safe in the wake of the incident and hoped the woman made a full recovery, emphasising this should never happen again. Netley Marsh Steam and Craft Show, held on Meadow Mead Farm in the New Forest, near the town of Totton, has been held annually since 1971. It offers a range of attractions, including shows of steam engines, classic cars, motorcycles, horses and commercial, farm and works vehicles. There are also steam engine models, jousting tournaments, children's entertainers, dog agility courses, falconry shows and more. Hampshire county councillor David Harrison said he is 'shocked and saddened' by the incident. The Marchwood and Totton South representative added: 'I am sure it will be properly investigated and any necessary action taken. 'My thoughts are with the injured person, family and friends.' A Hampshire Police spokesperson said: 'We were called at 10.53pm on July 26 with reports that an 18-year-old woman had sustained potentially life-changing injuries to her head while on a ride at Netley Marsh Steam and Craft Show. 'She was taken to hospital for treatment. 'Police attended and have liaised with the Health and Safety Executive.' Netley Marsh Steam and Craft Show has been approached for comment.
