'I was lucky to survive a one-punch attack in Aberdeen'
Mr McConnell and his wife Lisa were both assaulted in the incident on 19 September 2023.Corfield, from Doncaster in South Yorkshire, admitted punching the pilot to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement.He also admitted assaulting another man on the same night.Claire Maclagan, 36, from Dundee, admitted assaulting Lisa McConnell and was sentenced to carry out 187 hours of unpaid work.
Mr McConnell said events on the night unfolded very quickly."Out of nowhere this guy comes up to me," he said."He just punched me to the left-hand side of my jaw. It caused me to fall backwards. The next thing I remember was waking up in the recovery position on the floor."I don't recall saying anything to him, it all happened in the space of seconds. I just thought, what did I do to deserve this? If someone else had been in my position it looks like they would have got the same treatment."
How bad were the injuries?
Mr McConnell was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where he received stitches to his serious head wound. He said: "My daughter nearly lost her father, my wife nearly lost her husband, my mother nearly lost her son - all because one guy had a bad night and decided to punch me."Just about 30cm from where my head struck was uneven granite cobble. If my head had hit that, I shudder to think. The situation could have been a lot worse. I might not even be here today at worse case."He was unable to properly return to his job as an airline pilot for nearly four months."That really gets you down," he said. "You know I thought 'why me?' A single punch has caused all of this impact for me, the physical impact as well as the financial loss and the mental impact too."I sat for days wondering, had I done anything? Was this my fault?"
Maxine Thompson-Curl set up the charity One Punch UK after her 18-year-old son Kristian's death in 2010.He was punched by a man in a nightclub."He had a fractured skull and a catastrophic brain injury," she said. "My life from that moment has never been the same."He was in a coma for five days. And then for many months he was trying to get over having a brain injury. But he died nine months later. It was absolutely horrific."She added: "We know these one-punch assaults happen, but the difficult thing statistically is that it isn't recorded by the police as a one-punch attack it is recorded as an assault."I have contact with people from across the country - Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland - and I would say at least twice a week I am hearing from people who are going through this, they get in touch looking for help."We know that one punch can ruin two lives. What I would say is - stop, think and walk away. Don't use those fists as weapons. They weren't given to punch, they were given to us to care, to hold each other, not to kill."
Why has Ross told his story?
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Sutherland of Police Scotland said violence of any kind was entirely unacceptable."A split-second, ill-informed decision can end someone's life, and leave the perpetrator facing a long jail sentence," he said.Mr McConnell hopes sharing his story might also make others think twice before lashing out."I am one of the lucky ones who survived a one-punch attack," he said."There are many other accounts out there where people have lost their lives, become disabled from it."If you are really having a bad day, taking a swing at somebody Is not going to make it any better."
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Daily Mail
24 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Met confirms police van 'made contact' with protester at anti-migrant demo when thugs clashed with officers near asylum hotel after Ethiopian resident was charged over schoolgirl sex assault
The Metropolitan Police have confirmed one of their vans made contact with a protester during the chaos outside a migrant hotel which saw thugs clash with officers yesterday. Hundreds of furious residents gathered outside The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, on Thursday night, following the arrest of an asylum seeker accused of sexually assaulting teenage schoolgirls. The protest began peacefully, but later flared into violence after a group of hardcore agitators stopped three Essex Police riot vans from driving past the hotel to support their colleagues in the centre of the town. Children in balaclavas joined grown men and women to block the road by standing across it, before protesters started attacking the police vehicles, with some seen hurling projectiles at the vans and officers. Dramatic footage shared online appeared to show the moment a demonstrator was driven into by one of the police vehicles. The Essex Police van can be seen knocking over the young man, who stood in Epping High Road, in what appears to be an attempt to stop the vehicle leaving. In a comment addressing the video, a spokesperson for the Met said: 'Met officers attended Epping, Essex on the evening of Thursday, 17 July, following a request by Essex Police to support with an ongoing protest and counter-protest. 'On arrival, officers were met with significant hostility from protesters, with police vehicles damaged and officers threatened with violence. During their attendance, officers attempted to leave the immediate area due to safety concerns and were subsequently blocked in by the group of protesters using barriers. During this, a police van made contact with one of the protesters.' Protesters had erected a make-shift barrier made up of pallets and plastic fencing in the road to stop police leaving the scene. But the first of four Essex Police vans crashed through the barrier, leading to a protester to stand in the road, who was then knocked out of the way by the second van as people screamed: 'Oh my god' and 'what the f***'. The youth who was mown down by the police van is then seen getting up and brushing himself down as he shouts at the convoy. Another man, who was standing by the side of the road, also fell to the ground during the chaotic clip - which has been seen more than 2.4million times online. It is unclear whether either man needed medical attention. Essex Police officers, dressed in full riot-gear, can be seen sat in the vehicles - as thugs are seen attacking the vans, kicking and launching missiles at them. They had been among up to 100 officers who battled with anti-migrant protesters who had confronted a counter an anti-racism demonstration. Speaking to journalists this afternoon, Essex's Assistance Chief Constable Stuart Hooper, condemned last night's 'mindless thuggery', which left eight officers hurt. Warning those behind the mayhem they will 'feel the full force of the law', ACC Hooper said: 'If you were one of those individuals that was responsible for the damage - particularly to my officers or vehicle - you can expect a knock on your door.' He added: 'Eight of my officers... were assaulted last night and that is absolutely, totally unaccepted. They have come here to do a role, to support their communities – they're a part of that community. And that's what we won't tolerate.' The injured officers suffered minor injuries to their hands, as well as cuts and grazes elsewhere, ACC Hooper said. The top officer's comments come amid fears more protests could flare up tonight, triggering a fresh wave of violence. Insisting police were there to 'support peaceful protest', ACC Hooper said the force wanted to 'make sure everyone's voices are heard'. But he said: 'We don't want to see those acts of violence in our streets. 'If you are coming here with the intention of carrying out mindless thuggery, that is not acceptable and we will deal with that.' The demonstrators started peacefully early in the afternoon on Thursday. But by 6.30pm, violence had started to spill out onto the street, ACC Hooper said. Carrying placards reading 'Refugees Welcome' some of the counter protesters were pelted with bottles, eggs and can and told to 'f*** off out of Epping' by an angry mob. The protesters were calling for the closure of Epping's Bell Hotel as Home Office accommodation for asylum seekers following the arrest of one resident migrant on sexual assault charges against schoolgirls. Essex Police has confirmed it is aware of a video which appeared to show a police vehicle drive into a protester. Speaking of the incident, ACC Hooper said the video had been reported to the force, but said they had seen another video 'which maybe shows it from a different angle'. 'And I guess the angles and perceptions show a different thing,' he added. 'So I'm not sure that exact incident is as it's been reported in the media.' Photos from later in the evening show one of the vans with a smashed windscreen, while one masked man is seen jumping up and down on the roof of another police vehicle. Other footage from earlier in the mayhem showed men repeatedly punching and kicking the vans, as another man yells 'smash it, smash it' while officers sat trapped inside while the vandals attempted to break the windows. Several thugs then clambered on to the roof of the vehicles, before jumping up and down. The van was eventually forced to flee with its back doors wide open. The agitators also threw fireworks and bottles at police as they sought to protect anti-racism counter-demonstrators. Essex Police said that they had already identified several suspects they believe are responsible for damaging police vehicles, the hotel, and assaulting officers. Officers on patrol also arrested a man on suspicion of affray, following an assault reported close to The Bell Hotel on Sunday evening. Police armed with riot shields form a barrier across the road following a major public order incident in Epping on Thursday Dean Walters, 65, of Harlow, has been charged with affray and released on bail to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on September 24, with stringent conditions until then. The latest unrest has been triggered after Ethiopian asylums seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, was charged with a number of sexual offences. He was arrested by officers on July 8 after reports of a man acting inappropriately towards a number of people. Kebatu appeared at Colchester Magistrates' Court on Thursday, July 10, and denied all offences. Kebatu was charged with three counts of sexual assault, as well as one count of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and one count of harassment without violence. At the protest well-dressed mothers stood side-by-side with retired businessmen and women and dozens of bald tattooed middle-aged men to call for the hotel to stop operating as refugee accommodation. One bearded man wearing shorts draped a union flag over his shoulders as he took selfie pictures outside the embattled hostel. Essex Police were out in force in the picturesque commuter town - blocking the entrance to the hotel car park with a riot van. One of the demonstrators told how the 'whole of Epping' was united in opposition to housing asylum seekers in their town. The 74-year-old retired company director who declined to give his name said: 'We are all absolutely sick of it. They should all be sent back to where they've come from. If they came in a small boat from France then they should be sent back to France. 'It's absolutely outrageous that we have to pay for them - the food, their accommodation, their phones, everything. 'How is it that our children can't walk home from school without being attacked?' A mother-of-three added: 'This is not about being racist, it's about protecting our children. There are a load of schools near here and there are all these single men here in the hotel and no one knows who they are. Hundreds of furious Essex residents took to the streets to voice their anger following the arrest of a migrant on sex assault charges against school girls 'They've not been screened, or checked or anything.' One man held a flag of St George with the slogan written in black: 'Save Our Kids'. Youths wearing face masks, caps and sunglasses surged through bushes at the side of the road to try to confront their opponents. Police were forced to push some of the anti-migrant protesters back. But some managed to break through police lines and grabbed the anti-racism placards and threw them back at their opponents. Meanwhile a middle aged man with a Union flag draped over his shoulders and a black trilby hat joined the crowd with a loud speaker playing ska music classics. Police were forced to create a protective ring around the 50 or so anti-racism demonstrators as they became surrounded by protesters at the entrance to Epping town centre. Essex Police then deployed squads of riot officers as protesters urged the demonstrators to 'f*** off out of Epping' and accused them of protecting 'paedos'. The anti-racism group were pelted by occasional bottles, cans and eggs hurled by the anti-migrant protesters. Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow said: 'I am sure those living in Epping have concerns following tonight. I share those concerns. 'We know the people who carried out these crimes do not represent Epping or Essex. 'Nothing about the offending we saw tonight is representative of these communities, or the peaceful event that ended before this started. This was crime. 'Our detectives are already working through the footage of this evening – from our officers bodyworn camera, from our drones and from social media – and where offences are identified we will take action. 'People attended the earlier protest and did so peacefully, lawfully and responsibly. I'd like to thank them for expressing their views this way given the strength of feeling locally. 'The details of the ongoing sexual assault case can be found on our website, and I reiterate the importance for respect for the court process to prevent the release of any prejudicial information in relation to that case.' On Friday afternoon, a security guard remained on site at the Bell Hotel, opening the gate in the fencing and the door of the hotel to let people in and out. Fencing has since been put up to surround the hotel, accompanied with no entry signs. There are also warnings forbidding photography and filming in the vicinity of the hotel. Broken glass and remnants of flares remain on the ground from the incident. ACC Hooper believes that, although there are polarised views in Epping surrounding the hotel holding asylum seekers, a lot of those responsible for the violence came from further afield. He said: 'We actually saw last night we believe outsiders from our communities. People have come from outside their local areas into Epping to commit acts of violence and damage. 'That was really disappointing to see, because we know our communities wanted a voice and wanted to tell us what was going on, and they were peaceful in their activity. 'I've seen some of the social media comments and spoken to a number of members of the community, and there are polarised views. 'But it's our role as police to be independent and to, without fear or favour, make sure that people have the right to peaceful protest. 'What I won't stand for is those mindless acts of vandalism and violence that we saw and making sure that we are very robust in supporting our communities. 'Our communities don't want to see this violence, and they want to have their voice heard peacefully.' On Sunday night, rival groups of anti-migrant demonstrators and counter-protesters faced off outside the hotel. Two people, who worked as security guards at the hotel, were left bloodied and injured on July 13 after being attacked at a bus stop. Police said the two victims then managed to make their way past the protest site into the hotel, where there was a significant policing presence, to get help. A second incident took place on Tuesday July 15 with a man shouting racial abuse directed at the hotel, before later causing damage to the property. 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The Guardian
24 minutes ago
- The Guardian
‘Gangster granny' leader of family crime gang jailed for dealing drugs worth £80m
A family-run organised crime group, orchestrated by a 65-year-old described by police as a 'gangster granny', has been sentenced for dealing drugs with a street value of £80m across the UK. Deborah Mason, who had the moniker 'Queen Bee', and seven other members of the gang, were sentenced to a total of 106.5 years at Woolwich crown court in London on Friday for their involvement in supplying nearly a tonne of cocaine over seven months. A group of couriers collected packages of imported cocaine and drove them across London as well as Bradford, Leicester, Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff, between April and November 2023, the court heard. The drugs had an estimated wholesale value of between £23m and £35m and a street value of £80m. The ringleader spent her profits on designer goods and was looking to travel to Turkey to have cosmetic surgery, while young mothers who were part of the gang took their young children to pick-ups. Mason, who directed other members of the gang and was in contact with an upstream supplier called Bugsy, was found guilty of conspiracy to supply class A drugs and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Judge Philip Shorrock told Mason: 'You were effectively the site foreman working under the direction of a site manager. 'You recruited members of your own family – as a mother you should have been setting an example for your children and not corrupting them.' The judge noted that several of the women have young children but said their involvement in the drug network only 'makes it easier for unscrupulous' dealers to seek to recruit mothers. Earlier, prosecutor Charlotte Hole said: 'Everyone involved had an expectation of significant financial advantage, at least £1,000 per trip, and it is one of the most significant parts of the motivation of the conspiracy. 'They all had an awareness of the scale of the operation.' Hole added: 'She (Mason) recruited both her family members – her sister and her children – as well as partners and friends of her children, to a network of at least 10 individuals.' Mason did not use pressure or coercion to woo her family into the gang as they were 'motivated by financial benefit'. The court also heard she was in receipt of in excess of £50,000 a year in benefit income during the conspiracy period, while acting as ringleader and spending lavishly on luxuries. When Mason was on holiday in Dubai, her daughter Roseanne Mason, who made seven trips delivering about 166kg of cocaine, stepped into the directing role, the court heard. The prosecution said Roseanne Mason collected cash for her mother and also 'provided childcare so that others could work'. George Payne, defending Deborah Mason, claimed his client was not the top director of the gang's actions. In his mitigation argument, he said: 'It is precisely because she does not look like someone who is involved in drug dealing that she was chosen to be part of the plot.' He added: 'I submit that all of these individuals are expendable, without experience and without a lot of knowledge.' Mother of two Demi Bright made a single trip in August 2023 which involved 60kg of cocaine. She took her children with her on the two-day trip, which involved an overnight stay in a hotel. Lillie Bright was involved in 20 trips involving 195kg of cocaine. Her partner Chloe Hodgkin, 23, of Abbots Walk, Wye, Kent, is awaiting the birth of her baby and is to be sentenced at a date to be set. Reggie Bright's 12 trips as part of the gang delivered at least 90kg and there were times he collected wages for the group. He usually took trips with his partner, Demi Kendall, 31, telling her 'not to get the hump because we need the money', the court heard. Tina Golding made four trips and delivered at least 75kg of cocaine, collecting at least £10,000 in wages. Anita Slaughter took part in a single trip, which amounted to 55kg across four drops, in October 2023. Roseanne Mason, 29, of Canonbury, north London, and Demi Bright, 30, of Ashford, Kent, were each sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment. Lillie Bright, 26, of Ashford, Kent, was sentenced to 13 years, and Demi Kendall, 31, of Staplehurst, Kent, was sentenced to 13 years and six months' imprisonment. Reggie Bright, 24, of Staplehurst, Kent, was sentenced to 15 years, and Tina Golding, 66, of Ashford, Kent, was jailed for 10 years. Slaughter, 44, of Ashford, Kent, was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment. Acting on intelligence, Metropolitan police officers used a range of investigative techniques including extensive call data and conventional surveillance to track Deborah Mason and her couriers' movements. Most of the gang were arrested in May 2024. Met DC Jack Kraushaar, who led the investigation, said: 'This was a sophisticated operation which was extremely profitable for those involved. 'Following months of work by the Met police to relentlessly pursue these perpetrators, we were able to arrest and eventually convict them, preventing more drugs flooding streets across the UK which leads to violence, antisocial behaviour and misery for communities.'
Daily Mail
24 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Police and social services failed 'peaceful and loving' musician, 24, who was stabbed to death in street by 14-year-old girl, coroner rules
Police and social services failings contributed to the fatal stabbing of a 'peaceful and loving' musician by a mentally ill teenage girl, a coroner has ruled. Nimroy Hendricks, 24, was pursued down the road and stabbed in the chest by the 14-year-old youngster. He collapsed in the street and despite frantic efforts by paramedics he was pronounced dead at the scene. An inquest found the musician had been put at risk due to a failure by police and social services to take appropriate action. The girl - who was known to be vulnerable and was on a Child Protection Plan - had been flagged as posing a 'high risk' and often 'carried a knife' around with her. Just four days before the fatal attack, the girl - referred to as Child A - had gone missing from her home in Three Bridges, Crawley in West Sussex. Police located her but were unable to return her home, because her mother was away in London. Officers decided not to take her into protective custody and instead allowed her to stay with a woman who claimed to be her 'cousin'. However the woman was not a relative and was known to police as a drug user with previous criminal convictions. Today a coroner ruled that failings by Sussex Police and social services at West Sussex County Council may have contributed to the death of the 'peaceful and loving' musician. Penelope Schofield, senior coroner for West Sussex, said officers had failed to check whether the adult allowed to take in the teenager the night before the killing was actually her cousin. Instead they left Child A on the side of a road at 2am with a woman purporting to be her cousin. She said: 'The police did not physically attend the address given to them and therefore did not realise this person was not a relative.' Ms Schofield also said social services had failed to hold an emergency strategy meeting which had been organised when the child went missing. She said that as a result 'there was no opportunity to put in place additional safeguarding measures.' Ms Schofield added: 'It is possible that had these matters been addressed, the perpetrator may not have been in a position to carry out the act which led to Mr Hendrick's death.' Speaking after the inquest his parents Nimroy Hendricks Snr and Lisa Hendricks said their son had been failed but they were relieved by the coroner's findings. Lisa said: 'Nim should never have been put in the position he was. The authorities were well aware of the risk posed by the child.' She said the impact on the family had been shattered by his death and accused the police and social services of trying to cover up their errors. Mr Hendricks said: 'The police and authorities failed, they failed in every sense of the word.' The inquest in Horsham, West Sussex, heard the 14-year-old girl had a history of violence and suffered from mental health problems. She had been diagnosed with PTSD and a split personality disorder, had a criminal record and had previously attacked police. The hearing was told the girl had suffered a 'turbulent' childhood and had been the repeated victim of sexual assault, sex abuse and child sexual exploitation which had compounded her mental health condition. The teenager had recently moved from Birmingham and lived with her mother in a flat in Three Bridges. Just four days before the fatal attack the girl had gone missing from home and could not be found. Police were informed, launched a missing person investigation and eventually located her in the early hours of October 27, 2020. But despite being missing from home and being classed as 'vulnerable' officers decided not to take her into protective custody. Although it was known to police there were no relatives in the area, officers left the teenager with an 18-year-old she described as a 'cousin'. The following day the girl returned to her home on her own then locked herself in her bedroom. Mr Hendricks, known as Nim, was in a relationship with the girl's mother and had travelled from his home in London to the flat in Three Bridges to pick up some belongings. When he arrived he found the flat in disarray and angrily banged on the girl's bedroom door. Nim then left the property and was making his way towards a nearby train station when the girl, who had pursued him, confronted him in the street and stabbed him once in the chest. The girl calmly walked off and told a bystander: 'I've stabbed Nim.' Police arrested the girl, who had a criminal record, and she was later judged to be suffering from a 'significant abnormality of mind'. The teenager pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility at Bristol Crown Court in 2022 and was sentenced to nine years - five in custody and four on extended licence. During the two-week inquest, the girl - who is now 19 - was revealed to have had a long history of mental health problems and was repeatedly in trouble with the police. From a young age, the girl was in contact with child services including child safeguarding, youth justice services and education agencies. As well as having learning difficulties, she was known to have a mental age of around eight. Just eight months before the fatal attack, the girl had stabbed her mother in the leg and tried to burn down her house. She had been remanded to juvenile institution before being released back into the care of her mother. Early in 2020 the girl and her mother had moved from Birmingham to London before being placed in accommodation in West Sussex. It was there the girl's mother met Mr Hendricks, a talented musician who worked as a carer, and the pair began a relationship. The girl continued to make threats of violence towards her mother and, although she started attending a specialist education centre, she continued to pose a threat of violence. On October 24 the teenager disappeared from the flat and was reported to police as being missing from home. The girl was located by police and her mother, who was staying in London, asked officers to take her daughter to a safe place. Frederick Powell, lawyer for the family, said Nim had never been told the risk of violence from the girl. He said: 'Nim was overlooked. He was never told of the risk this child posed. He was in a blindspot due to the failure of examining what was known.' Paying tribute to her son, his mother Lisa Hendricks said Nim had been a hugely loving child before growing up to become a talented musician. She said: 'He was a leader and a performer. He loved books and reading. He was confident, happy and inquisitive. 'He was a joy to us. He loved the environment, the mountains and being close to the sea.'
