Man jailed for 7 July race attack

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/6177076.stm

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A man has been jailed for 15 months for spitting at a Muslim woman on a train after a 7 July bombings commemoration.

Charles Adams, 23, admitted religiously aggravated assault and affray with his brother Mark Adams, 26, and father Mark Raymond Adams, 50, from London.

Michelle Idrees, from Luton, was wearing a burkha when she was targeted by the father and his two sons.

Adams's father received a suspended jail sentence and his brother was given 100 hours' unpaid community work.

Religious insults

Judge Mr Justice Calvert-Smith told Charles Adams: "You started this series of events off.

"When, to your surprise, instead of cowering meekly at your abuse, she answered back you increased the venom of your abuse, culminating in what was a disgusting form of common assault by spitting in her face."

The three men, all from Colindale,north London, had been to watch an Arsenal game when the incident took place on a Thameslink train on 14 August.

The attack was said to have lasted nearly 30 minutes during which Mrs Idrees was spat at and insulted.

She was returning to her home in Luton, Bedfordshire, when Charles Adams began chanting a religious song as he passed her.

He then started verbally abusing her before exposing his chest to show a tattoo of three lions and saying he was of "true British blood".

Mrs Idrees finally pulled the emergency cord and four passengers rang 999 as did Adams, who then told police that Mrs Idrees had a bomb on her.