Carnival queen Romi in slap row

Vanessa Cornall

March 28, 2008

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MODEL girl ... Hyndburn Honey Romi Young.

ACCRINGTON’S Carnival Queen has been suspended from her job at a sports centre after slapping a work experience boy.

Stunning Romi Jane Young, 21, was working as a leisure attendant at Hyndburn Sports Centre when she struck out at the 15-year-old, who was on a placement from a local school.

Romi, of Plantation Street, Accring-ton, said: "I know what I did was wrong but the things he had been saying were really hurtful.

"He had a really bad attitude from the moment he began his placement and he had been really obnoxious to everyone that day, not just me.

"On the morning of the incident we had not been getting on and the next thing I knew he was calling me names like ‘bitch’ and ‘Paki’. I have been racially abused all my life and something inside me just thought ‘I’m not going to take this any more’ and I slapped him."

Romi, who is of mixed race, had been a part-time member of staff at the sports centre for eight months when the incident happened. Her duties included spells as a lifeguard in the swimming pool.

She said: "I didn’t hurt him or leave a mark on his face. It was wrong, I know, but no-one should have to take insults like that. I just flipped."

After the incident leisure bosses sent Romi home to cool down.

She was called to attend a disciplinary hearing yesterday morning (Thursday) when she was told the investigation was still ongoing.

She added: "I’m really annoyed at the sports centre bosses too. When they sent me home that day they made out that what had happened wasn’t that big a deal but then they suspended me and left me dangling for seven weeks.

"I have even tried to resign so I could move on and get a new job but they won’t accept my resignation."

Joe Balko, Chief Executive of Hynd-burn Leisure Trust, said: " I can confirm that a member of staff has been suspended while an investigation into an alleged attack on a work experience pupil is carried out.

"She will not be reinstated until the investigation has been completed."

Romi, who lives with her mum Tracey and 14-year-old brother Daniel, became Accrington’s Carnival Queen last year after beating 25 other hopefuls in the event organised by Accrington Lions in conjunction with the Observer.

She led the parade at the Carnival in June and has also entered our current Hyndburn Honeys competition.

A spokesman for the school involved said: "We do not wish to comment as the matter is under investigation" and Acc-rington Lions also had no comment to make.

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Showing comments 1 to 6 and replies | View All

jt52 (28/03/2008 at 16:36)

IS THIS REALLY FRONT PAGE NEWS, NO WONDER HYNDBURN IS IN THE TOP 10 OF WORST PLACES TO LIVE!

Mr.Cool, Blackburn (02/04/2008 at 09:30)

The lad should never have been allowed to go on work-placement in the 1st place because of his insolent & racist attitudes, which must have been known to his teachers. He should accept the 'slap' as very light punishment & make an apology to Romi. I doubt any employer would willingly give a known trouble-maker a placement, had the Sports Centre been made aware of his attitudes?

Mel G (03/04/2008 at 19:04)

Isnt their a saying theirs to side to every story..What has happen for this work experience BOY as the heading states to say what he did?Which yes was wrong but so is slapping someone more to the point a child. how can miss young say she did not hurt or mark him,i for 1 know that is not ture,yes i do know the Boy whom is involved who just happens to be a kind,polite and well mannered boy compared to some boys around our neighbouring areas,that is why i say theirs to side to every story..So please do not judge until the full facts are known..thankyou

Stan Accy, Great Harwood (10/04/2008 at 13:34)

As Mel G has said above, where is the other side of this? Has the observer sunk to a level where one unconfirmed side of an argument is all the checking that is done.

Mel G has said the boy was injured and marked, if this is the case then Romi does deserve suspending and investigating. She is a 21 year old adult the lad is 14 or 15. How do we even know that was said, again we have Romi's word for it so it must be true.

These are the claims of someone who has admitted to assaulting a child! Oh and is it just a coincidence the Hyndburn Honey competition is running at the moment. This has been going on for several weeks so why break the story now?

DJ_Jaybee (17/04/2008 at 03:21)

Why does the newspaper print the street that people live on - especially the addresses of attractive females should be omitted - not make it easier for stalkers. Would you also print her mobile number for the dirty phone callers?

AnthonyUK, Accrington,Lancs (29/04/2008 at 14:48)

The boy shouldn't have started the racism at all;calling somebody because of their colour/religeon etc is going to upset,there should be a policy of removal of schoolchildren immediately from workplacements with employers if the children are racist/sexist/etc. There is NO place for it whatsoever. Romi was not in the wrong;the kid WAS!!!!!!!!

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