Five people charged after EDL demo in Thatcham

Five people have been charged in connection with an English Defence League protest in Thatcham.

After twenty people staged a protest in Thatcham at the end of February, five people have been charged with a string of offences.

The four men and one woman face charges like racially or religiously aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress. They had indicated they were members of the EDL carrying out a demonstration in The Broadway.

Thames Valley Police Statement:

Thames Valley Police has charged five people in connection with offences committed during an apparent protest in Thatcham, West Berkshire in February.

Julie Anne Worthington, aged 35, of Donnington Gardens, Reading, has been charged with two counts of racially/religiously aggravated intentional harassment/alarm/distress and two counts of using threatening /abusive/ insulting words/behaviour to cause harassment/alarm /distress.

Edward Scovell, aged 43, of Donnington Gardens, Reading, has been charged with one count of racially/religiously aggravated intentional harassment/alarm/distress and one count of using threatening/abusive/insulting words/behaviour to cause harassment/alarm /distress.

Robert Brammer, aged 50, of Hayward Close, Totton, Southampton, has been charged with one count of racially/religiously aggravated intentional harassment/alarm/distress and one count of using threatening/abusive/insulting words/behaviour to cause harassment/alarm /distress.

Gary Hazel, aged 38, of Forsyth Garden, Bournemouth, has been charged with one count of racially/religiously aggravated intentional harassment/alarm/distress and one count of using threatening/abusive/insulting words/behaviour to cause harassment/alarm/distress.

Rory Rowbottom, aged 22, of Hartmead Road, Thatcham, has been charged with one count of racially/religiously aggravated intentional harassment/alarm/distress and one count of using threatening/abusive/insulting words/behaviour to cause harassment/alarm/distress.

These charges relate to incidents of disorder on the evening of Friday 28 February when a group of around 15 to 20 people gathered in The Broadway, Thatcham. Some of the people had previously indicated that they were members of the English Defence League (EDL).

The above people have been bailed to appear at Newbury Magistrates’ Court on 1 May.

The Breeze, 11 April 2014