Watford FC diversity officer screamed ‘go back to your country' to TfL employee

Telegraph

3 days ago

A championship football club's diversity officer screamed 'go back to your country' during a fight, a court heard.
Ebonnie-Rose John-Jules was the equality, diversity and inclusion officer for Watford FC 's Community Sports & Education Trust at the time of a violent confrontation with railway staff in London.
The 23-year-old was travelling with her friend on May 5 last year at about 6.30pm when they became embroiled in a row with Sasha Da Cunha, a Transport for London (TfL) employee, who was aided by her colleague, Tom Kakeeto.
Mr Kakeeto had just finished his shift at Southall station and was on his way home, prosecutor Tom Heslop told City of London magistrates' court.
The prosecutor said that Mr Kakeeto heard 'a verbal altercation' between his colleague and John-Jules and her friend, 23-year-old Naomi Caruana – also a defendant, and that he intervened, asking them 'to be civil'.
However, the court heard that John-Jules removed her earrings before launching into an attack on Mr Kakeeto, punching him in the face on the railway concourse, the Daily Mail reported.
Mr Heslop said: 'They are both attacking him, with the majority of the assault carried out by Caruana, but it did begin with John-Jules.
'Comments were made during this by John-Jules towards Ms Da Cunha, including: 'Go back to your country, you bloody Indians.'
'She also says 'I will not leave the station until I see him bleeding' and reference is also made to 'go back' and 'f---ing Indians',' Mr Heslop said of the 'unprovoked' attack.
John-Jules had denied the charges against her for over a year, but on the day of her trial pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Kakeeto, as well as a count of racially aggravated threatening behaviour.
The court heard John-Jules graduated from the University of East London with a degree in sports physical education and development, has a Master's degree in international sports management from the Global Institute of Sport, and has a previous conviction in 2022 for threatening behaviour.
'A shock to be attacked like that'
In his victim impact 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.'
John-Jules, of Southhall, began working in her full-time role at Watford FC in April last year, just weeks before the attack on Mr Kakeeto took place.
She was bailed to appear at Westminster magistrates' court on Sept 11 for a pre-sentence report.
John-Jules was sentenced to a 12-month community order, which includes 70 hours community service work up to five days of rehabilitation and must pay a £50 fine. Her co-defendant Caruana, of Hounslow, pleaded guilty to assaulting both Mr Kakeeto and Ms Da Cunha and also damaging the male victim's EarPods.
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.
Watford FC Community Sports & Education Trust said in a statement it had 'zero tolerance for any form of discrimination or violence'.
It added that John-Jules failed to disclose the arrest, investigation or proceedings against her, as is required in accordance with company policy.
'Had the trust been made aware, the member of staff would have been suspended as per company policy pending the outcome of the police investigation,' it said.
'Once found guilty, the member of staff would have been instantly dismissed for gross misconduct.'