This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-63290149
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Race hate crimes: Victim of nightclub attacks calls for harsher punishments | Race hate crimes: Victim of nightclub attacks calls for harsher punishments |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Tomos Wilson was caught on camera subjecting Ebehitale Igene to a torrent of abuse | Tomos Wilson was caught on camera subjecting Ebehitale Igene to a torrent of abuse |
Tomos Wilson was caught on camera subjecting Ebehitale Igene to a torrent of abuse | Tomos Wilson was caught on camera subjecting Ebehitale Igene to a torrent of abuse |
A man filmed being assaulted and subjected to a torrent of racist abuse has said he wants tougher sentences for offenders. | A man filmed being assaulted and subjected to a torrent of racist abuse has said he wants tougher sentences for offenders. |
Ebehitale Igene was abused at a north Wales nightclub on three occasions - the footage of the final assault was posted on social media. | Ebehitale Igene was abused at a north Wales nightclub on three occasions - the footage of the final assault was posted on social media. |
Tomos Wilson, 19, pleaded guilty to racially-aggravated assault and racially-aggravated harassment. | Tomos Wilson, 19, pleaded guilty to racially-aggravated assault and racially-aggravated harassment. |
He was handed a 20-week suspended sentence by magistrates in September. | |
One police officer investigating the attacks said it was the "most disgusting" abuse he had experienced in 13 years with North Wales Police. | One police officer investigating the attacks said it was the "most disgusting" abuse he had experienced in 13 years with North Wales Police. |
Wilson, from Star near Gaerwen on Anglesey, was filmed holding Mr Igene by the neck in toilets at Cube nightclub in Bangor in March. | Wilson, from Star near Gaerwen on Anglesey, was filmed holding Mr Igene by the neck in toilets at Cube nightclub in Bangor in March. |
Ebehitale Igene was verbally and physically attacked in three racist incidents at a north Wales nightclub | Ebehitale Igene was verbally and physically attacked in three racist incidents at a north Wales nightclub |
The video showed him shouting racist-laden expletives at his victim, and telling him to "go home". | The video showed him shouting racist-laden expletives at his victim, and telling him to "go home". |
It was the third time in three weeks Wilson had accosted Mr Igene at the nightclub, each time hurling racist abuse. | It was the third time in three weeks Wilson had accosted Mr Igene at the nightclub, each time hurling racist abuse. |
He called his victim a string of offensive names, referring to his skin colour and his West African heritage. | He called his victim a string of offensive names, referring to his skin colour and his West African heritage. |
"(It's) made me depressed - made me suicidal - has ruined my happiness, has ruined my career," business graduate Mr Igene told Newyddion S4C. | "(It's) made me depressed - made me suicidal - has ruined my happiness, has ruined my career," business graduate Mr Igene told Newyddion S4C. |
"Why would you just see and just hate me, just because of my skin colour?" | "Why would you just see and just hate me, just because of my skin colour?" |
"It doesn't matter where you are from, we all bleed the same." | "It doesn't matter where you are from, we all bleed the same." |
Family leave Wales over racism in school | Family leave Wales over racism in school |
Is racial prejudice alive and kicking in Wales? | Is racial prejudice alive and kicking in Wales? |
A member of public spotted the video of the final assault on social media, and complained to the police. | A member of public spotted the video of the final assault on social media, and complained to the police. |
Wilson admitted a single charge of racially-aggravated common assault, two charges of racially-aggravated harassment against Mr Igene, and a further charge of racially-aggravated harassment after hurling abuse at a security guard outside a take-away in Bangor. | Wilson admitted a single charge of racially-aggravated common assault, two charges of racially-aggravated harassment against Mr Igene, and a further charge of racially-aggravated harassment after hurling abuse at a security guard outside a take-away in Bangor. |
Magistrates in Caernarfon imposed the 20-week suspended sentence, and ordered Wilson to pay his victim £500 compensation. | Magistrates in Caernarfon imposed the 20-week suspended sentence, and ordered Wilson to pay his victim £500 compensation. |
Wilson was also banned from approaching Mr Igene for two years, and ordered to stay away from the nightclub too. | Wilson was also banned from approaching Mr Igene for two years, and ordered to stay away from the nightclub too. |
The court also banned him from drinking alcohol for the next three months, and he must wear an electronic monitor to make sure he remains sober. | The court also banned him from drinking alcohol for the next three months, and he must wear an electronic monitor to make sure he remains sober. |
Attacker Wilson has been banned from the nightclub by the court for the next year | Attacker Wilson has been banned from the nightclub by the court for the next year |
'Humiliated' by racism | 'Humiliated' by racism |
But Mr Igene said he felt his attacker's suspended prison sentence sent out the wrong message. | But Mr Igene said he felt his attacker's suspended prison sentence sent out the wrong message. |
"He posted the video without my consent, humiliated me three different times, and then you are giving the person six month suspended sentences," said Mr Igene, who moved to Wales three years ago, and lives with his partner at Llangefni on Anglesey. | "He posted the video without my consent, humiliated me three different times, and then you are giving the person six month suspended sentences," said Mr Igene, who moved to Wales three years ago, and lives with his partner at Llangefni on Anglesey. |
"Those who have been caught red-handed racially abusing people should be taught a lesson, should be punished according to the law." | "Those who have been caught red-handed racially abusing people should be taught a lesson, should be punished according to the law." |
Racist fans should be jailed for abuse | Racist fans should be jailed for abuse |
Anti-racism aims for health, schools and offices | Anti-racism aims for health, schools and offices |
Legal expert Dylan Rhys Jones said magistrates were working within strict guidelines set by the UK government. | Legal expert Dylan Rhys Jones said magistrates were working within strict guidelines set by the UK government. |
"If in the future, a government is to consider placing more emphasis on ensuring that such crimes do not occur, perhaps the sentence needs to be raised higher," said the head of law at Glyndwr University in Wrexham. | "If in the future, a government is to consider placing more emphasis on ensuring that such crimes do not occur, perhaps the sentence needs to be raised higher," said the head of law at Glyndwr University in Wrexham. |
"Unfortunately, the way things are at the moment - the magistrates can only work within the guidelines they receive from the government." | "Unfortunately, the way things are at the moment - the magistrates can only work within the guidelines they receive from the government." |
However, Mr Rhys Jones said a suspended jail term was still a custodial sentence, which can be imposed if any further offences are committed. | However, Mr Rhys Jones said a suspended jail term was still a custodial sentence, which can be imposed if any further offences are committed. |
The Sentencing Council, which is the UK government's arms-length body overseeing guidelines, describes suspended sentences as "both a punishment and a deterrent". | The Sentencing Council, which is the UK government's arms-length body overseeing guidelines, describes suspended sentences as "both a punishment and a deterrent". |
Happier times: Ebehitale Igene lives with his partner and their children on Anglesey | Happier times: Ebehitale Igene lives with his partner and their children on Anglesey |
Living with 'trauma' | Living with 'trauma' |
Mr Igene said that was little comfort to him as he still struggles with what happened to him. | Mr Igene said that was little comfort to him as he still struggles with what happened to him. |
"People here are welcoming," he said. | "People here are welcoming," he said. |
But he was now "scared when I go out". | But he was now "scared when I go out". |
"Because of the trauma, because of the pain I've been through, because of what this Tomos has done to make me feel like I am not welcome here. | "Because of the trauma, because of the pain I've been through, because of what this Tomos has done to make me feel like I am not welcome here. |
"Going out on this estate, to maybe a place like a shop, it's like a war for me. | "Going out on this estate, to maybe a place like a shop, it's like a war for me. |
"I don't know what will happen next." | "I don't know what will happen next." |
If you have been affected by this report, or want additional advice and support around racisim and racist hate crime, the BBC Action Line has information that may be able to help. | If you have been affected by this report, or want additional advice and support around racisim and racist hate crime, the BBC Action Line has information that may be able to help. |