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The Independent
21 minutes ago
- The Independent
Why are protesters targeting a hotel in Essex?
Over 500 protesters gathered outside a hotel in Essex which houses asylum seekers on Sunday, with police condemning scenes which descended into 'mindless thuggery.' Six arrests were made following the violence, as participants injured a police officer and damaged a police vehicle outside the hotel in Epping. Essex Police say teams are still searching for three individuals in connection with the unrest. Footage from the scenes on Sunday shows rioters attacking police vans, with one man struck by a vehicle which was attempting to navigate the crowds. Later in the evening, two security guards working the Bell Hotel were also attacked at a bus stop, and are recovering in hospital. The attacked is being treated as a racist hate crime. The events marked the third time in a week that violent scenes unfolded outside the Bell Hotel, which is being used to temporarily house asylum seekers. Chief Supt Simon Anslow said: 'Disappointingly we have seen yet another protest, which begun peacefully, escalate into mindless thuggery with individuals again hurting one of our officers and damaging a police vehicle. 'For anyone who thinks we will tolerate their thuggery – think again.' Reports have varied as to the cause of the violence. Here is everything we know: Why did the protest happen? The events were organised in response to the arrest of an asylum seeker who was later charged with sexual offences against a teenager and adult in the town, eight days after arriving to the UK via boat. Hadush Kebatu, 38, from Ethiopia, denies the allegations and remains in custody. He is charged with three counts of sexual assault, alongside inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and harassment without violence. On Thursday 10 July, Essex Police confirmed that the man had been arrested after being alerted to 'reports of a man acting inappropriately towards a teenager.' The initial protest on Sunday 13 July was sparked after Mr Kebatu was charged. Reports indicate that most of those in attendance at the protest were local people concerned about this incident and the location of the asylum accommodation. Signs reading 'Protect Our Kids' could be seen in the crowds during the hours that the protest was peaceful, with families in attendance with their children. Epping Forest District Council has called on the Home Office to close asylum seeker hotels, including the Bell Hotel. Following the disruption, council leader Chris Whitbread repeated concerns that its location is 'entirely unsuitable.' He added: 'I am deeply disappointed that during the demonstration outside the Bell Hotel in Epping on Thursday night, some individuals chose to engage in violent and disruptive behaviour. 'I condemn their actions. They not only undermined their message but also put fellow protesters, police officers and residents at risk.' Were the far-right involved? Experts from far-right research group Hope Not Hate say this series of gatherings which began with largely peaceful intent were co-opted by actors intent on causing violence. Several prominent members of the far-right were in attendance at the protest, analysis by the group's Right Response Team found, with figurehead Tommy Robinson drawing attention to the initial protest on Sunday. Footage and photography from Thursday and Sunday's events show people with links to groups such as the British National Party (BNP), Britain First, Patriotic Alternative and neo-nazi group Blood & Honour all in attendance. The Bell Hotel has regularly attracted anti-migrant protests organised by groups such as these since 2020, Hope Not Hate explains, with actors capitalising on the recent concern to reignite racial tensions. A report from the group reads: 'The events in Epping are a symptom of a recurring trend within the far right: co-opting the high emotions of local people to whip up hatred, pushing what could have been a peaceful protest towards violent disorder. 'The individuals engaging in violence are not representative of the people of Epping, who are understandably angry following the assault of a local girl. 'Instead, they sow division in the local area, which does nothing to assist the victims of sexual abuse.'
The Independent
21 minutes ago
- The Independent
Former Tory MP appears in court charged with having false passport
A former Conservative MP has appeared in court accused of having a false passport during the time she was sitting in Parliament. Katie Wallis, 41, of Butetown, Cardiff, the MP for Bridgend in South Wales from 2019 to 2024, became the first openly transgender MP in the House of Commons in 2022. Wallis, who uses female pronouns and was previously known as Jamie, appeared before Cardiff Crown Court on Monday representing herself. The charge was not read out in court, but the defendant previously appeared in Cardiff Magistrates' Court accused of having a false passport 'without reasonable excuse'. Wallis was alleged to be in possession of the document in April 2022, while she was still serving as a Conservative MP. Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, the Recorder of Cardiff, adjourned the hearing for Wallis to either seek legal representation or make an informed decision on representing herself. The judge said: 'I'm going to adjourn this for a short period of time to enable you to decide whether you want to get at least some initial advice.' Wallis will next appear on August 15. Wallis, who appeared in court wearing a pink jacket, was released on bail until the next hearing.
The Independent
21 minutes ago
- The Independent
Mother jailed for killing four-month-old baby daughter
A mother who killed her four-month-old baby girl by violently shaking her has been jailed for 15 years. Melissa Wilband, 28, was found guilty by a jury of the manslaughter of Lexi Wilband, who collapsed at their home in Newent, Gloucestershire, in April 2020. Bristol Crown Court heard tests revealed how Lexi died following bleeding on her brain, likely caused by being violently shaken, both recently and on at least one earlier occasion. Lexi died at Bristol Children's Hospital, with a nurse holding her hand, on April 18 – six days after her collapse. Wilband's former partner, Jack Wheeler, 31, was acquitted of causing or allowing Lexi's death. Mr Wheeler had also been charged with Lexi's manslaughter but this was formally withdrawn during the trial after prosecutors offered no evidence against him. Passing sentence, Mr Justice Saini said he was satisfied Wilband had shaken Lexi twice. 'Lexi was about four-months-old when she died. She was a healthy baby,' he said. 'It is important that we recognise this is about her life being taken. 'You killed Lexi by violently shaking her at the family home in Newent. 'Lexi was killed by you when the country was in the first national Covid-19 lockdown. 'After the evening meal you were bathing Lexi and you shook Lexi, and immediately after this she went floppy. 'Your shaking of Lexi led to severe bleeding in her brain. 'I am sure on the evidence that Lexi had been shaken by you in another, less violent, incident before that Easter Sunday. 'Only you will know why you acted in the way you did. 'It is hard to imagine the pain that Lexi must have suffered both from the past violence and the violence that led to her death. 'She would have cried out in anguish.' During the trial, jurors were told that Wilband and Mr Wheeler were in a relationship for about three years, but Lexi was conceived with another man in early 2019. However, Wilband told Mr Wheeler, of Ledbury, Herefordshire, that he was the baby's biological father and presented him with a fake DNA certificate that claimed he was '100%' the 'farther' of her then-unborn child. A genuine DNA test after Lexi's birth in November 2019 confirmed that Mr Wheeler was not biologically related to her, but he remained with Wilband and brought up Lexi as if she were his own child. Jurors heard how Wilband, who had a volatile relationship with Mr Wheeler, took cocaine just six days after Lexi was born. On April 12 2020, Wilband made a 111 call from the new-build council house where she lived with Mr Wheeler and Lexi. She claimed Lexi had stopped breathing while in her bouncer chair. Lexi was taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and was intubated, with Wilband asked if she would like to hold her baby before the procedure took place. She declined to do so. The infant was then transferred to Bristol Children's Hospital, where Wilband told medics that Mr Wheeler had been carrying Lexi in her bouncer chair and was swinging it. A decision was made to switch off Lexi's ventilator on April 17, following the results of an MRI scan. Jurors were told that Wilband spent three hours with Lexi that evening before leaving to go to sleep in a different part of the hospital. Jane Osborne KC, prosecuting, said Wilband was aware that her baby might die through the night but did not stay at her bedside. 'A staff nurse held Lexi's hand through the night and remained with her,' Ms Osborne said. 'On the morning of April 18, Lexi seemed to have longer pauses in her breathing. Ms Wilband was told to attend the ward. 'She arrived just after Lexi had ceased to show any signs of life and had stopped breathing.' A post-mortem examination gave Lexi's cause of death as bleeding to the brain, caused by a non-accidental traumatic event such as someone 'shaking her violently', Ms Osborne said. Further tests found the areas of bleeding in Lexi's eyes were 'too numerous to count', she added. Giving evidence, Wilband denied ever shaking Lexi and said she had a 'bad wrist' that meant she was physically unable to shake her, and sought to blame her partner. Mr Wheeler said he had no idea why Lexi had collapsed and denied carrying her in the bouncer chair.
