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Owen Jones Attack Was Motivated By Politics And Sexuality, Court Rules

Columnist Owen Jones outside Snaresbrook Crown Court where he gave evidence 
Columnist Owen Jones outside Snaresbrook Crown Court where he gave evidence

A Chelsea fan who attacked Guardian journalist and left-wing campaigner Owen Jones outside a pub was motivated by the victim’s sexual orientation and political views, a judge at Snaresbrook Crown Court has ruled.

James Healy, 40, claims he assaulted Jones because he had barged him inside the pub and didn’t apologise for spilling his drink.

Jones suffered cuts and swelling to his back and head, and bruises all down his body in the assault during his birthday night out on August 17.

Healy, who has admitted affray and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, faced a trial of issue at Snaresbrook Crown Court, with Jones giving evidence against him. He has admitted the assault but denies it was a hate crime.

During the trial, the court heard Healy had been photographed performing a Nazi salute and also allegedly had a football hooligan flag adorned with SS symbols and a collection of pin badges linked to white supremacist groups.

Recorder Judge Anne Studd QC ruled Healy targeted Jones: “I am satisfied so that I am sure that [Healy] holds particular beliefs that are normally associated with the far right wing.”

She added: “I therefore propose to sentence Healy on the basis that this was a wholly unprovoked attack on Mr Jones by reason of his widely published left-wing beliefs by a man who has demonstrable right-wing sympathies.”

Jones was present in court with several friends for Judge Studd’s ruling.

One of the items bore the name of the Combat 18 neo-Nazi group, whose stated aims include “execute all queers,” Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.

Healy admits his face was “crunched up” in anger during a “frenzied” attack on Guardian columnist Jones outside the Lexington pub on the Pentonville Road in Islington, north London.

But denied he was motivated by the victim’s sexual orientation or political views, claiming he did not know who Jones was. The writer is gay and campaigns for LGBT rights.

During legal argument, the court heard police found a black...

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