BNP pair fined for brawl on campus

Roland Hancock

June 17, 2005

| Submit Comments | Comments (20) | Previous | Next

FISTS: Tony Wentworth admitted to violence

A LEADING member of the BNP has admitted causing fear and provocation to violence after a fight in the foyer of a university campus building.

Tony Wentworth, 23, appeared before the town's Salford magistrates' court yesterday along with his co-accused "bodyguard" Joseph Owens, 42, who pleaded guilty to common assault.

A Greater Manchester Police jeep and monitoring van were stationed outside the court where about a dozen members of "Unite Against Fascism" were protesting.

Judge Jonathan Finestein gave Wentworth, of Salford, and Owens, from Norris Green, Liverpool, conditional discharges and ordered them to pay court costs of '200.

Owens was also ordered to pay '150 compensation to his victim.

The men were charged after a fight broke out in the foyer of a Salford University campus building in March last year, where Wentworth - chairman of the BNP youth movement - is studying history.

Both the BNP members were canvassing support for Wentworth's election as communications officer, which includes editing the university's newspaper. He was not elected.

Sad

After the hearing, Owens, who has a string of violent offences, said: "We did not go down there to cause trouble, it's just sad that it ended up with fists, but I did assault someone."

Unite Against Fascism spokesman Mike Killian said: "We were all pleased with the result. Justice was done."

He said the group would now be lobbying for Wentworth to be thrown out of the university. "He can no longer claim to be a law-abiding citizen," said Mr Killian.

After the case Wentworth said: "This whole thing has been a farce, costing tens of thousands of pounds over nothing more than a scuffle. We were provoked."

Should known BNP members be allowed to stay at college? Have your say.

| Submit Comments | Comments (20) | Previous | Next

Showing comments 1 to 20 and replies | View All

SB, Oldham (17/06/2005 at 16:27)

I thought academic education was suppose to expand the mind, people explore different cultures norms and become more broadminded.

By the looks of this, the education system is failing. Why allow a BNP racist to study on a course that will be of no benefit to him, as he is so narrow minded bigot who can't see anything other than white. Besides people like him should be put in an island by themselves and lets see how they survive. No man is an island - we need each other to survive, we trade for food, water, luxuries of life. Does he think he can do without all those things. I think not. The sooner bigots like him are thrown out the better world we will have. The judge should have sentenced him to community service within the ethnic minority community - preferably to clean up after them. It is sad he does not know that there are good and bad in all communities, and there a very understanding, educated and nice people in the ethnic minority community. Lets face it without migration, would the UK be thriving as it is today, who will do all the labouring jobs, jobs no one in the white community want to do, the cleaners, nurses, doctors and now even teachers. The shortage of these skills are inviting migrants to come. We are now living in a cosmopolitan society where race, colour, sexuality should not determine your status in the food chain. Bigots/racists don't need education because they are colour blind - they only see white and nothing else, and they should be exlcluded from society in general.

William Johnson, London (17/06/2005 at 17:35)

Whether people express views, such as those of the British National Party, that are not popular with many people, Wentworth - as a citizen - still has the right to attend the University. We can not begin to use political disagreements and ordinary scuffles as a means to disqualify people. If a member from United Against Fascism was involved in a brawl, one would expect him/her to be able to remain in University provided that such actions do not occur again. If Wentworth should be removed from University, it should be because of his actions not his political beliefs.

Richard Mullins, Moston, Manchester (17/06/2005 at 18:30)

He shouldn't be banned from University - that would simply confirm current beliefs about universities being Marxist, intolerant centres for thought-control.

Micky Finn, Oldham (17/06/2005 at 19:34)

BNP are not my favourite people, but to deny them an education just because of their beliefs is very un democratic. These left wing trendy student types, always shout about equality, freedom of speech, tolerance etc, yet they are not very equal , or tolerant themselves ,when other people , whether BNP or not, have a differing opinion to them.They are hypocrites promoting double standards. Debbie is correct in saying that the indigenous British will find it harder to seek higher education, in coming years, and all down to Political correctness and ethnic quotas. I fear for our future. Indigenous British will become second class citizens in our own country.

John Burns, York (17/06/2005 at 20:00)

Yes they should be allowed to stay there is no smoke without fire.

Zoe, Maidstone (17/06/2005 at 20:05)

I'm at Uni in London and support the BNP. Being in the BNP is not a crime! The real racists are the anti-white leftist fanatics destroying our country. We should have listened to Enoch Powell!

ANGRY WHITE MAN, SOUTH WEST (18/06/2005 at 01:35)

To exclude BNP members from higher education would be SERIOUS DISCRIMINATION, when will people realise that the BNP are actually very MODERATE - a lot of people harbour far more extreme views than the BNP would even dare contemplate!

Why is it never mentioned how FASCIST UAF are, they call themselves anti fascist yet they want to deny white people their democratic right to vote for a legitimate political party, and further more they even want to EXCLUDE BNP members from higher education for their political views.

If thats not FASCISM then what is?

ANTHONY DAVID JONES, ASHTON U LYNE (18/06/2005 at 08:59)

I gained my BA and MA at Salford University. I was a BNP candidate in this year's General Election and last year's Euro election.

I had no problems with fellow students. It is the professional agitators of the left who cause the violence.

Sue, Leicestershire (18/06/2005 at 10:00)

I believe that many students not of BNP persuasion get into similar trouble so surely, fair's fair, if you're going to ban someone for their political principles -still a democratic right here - then any student involved should also be banned.

Mike Williams, Moston (18/06/2005 at 11:00)

My grandfather told me about a university where his friend used to go to where students were barred from an education for their political beleifs.

They were socialists under the Nazis , and also Democrats under the Communists.

Do we really want Liberalism to become the new fascism and young lads like this one the new jews ?

Sarah Walker, Oldham (18/06/2005 at 13:24)

I don't see why a BNP member shouldn't be able to study at a University! This is a democracy after all! The college that I studied at in London had many organisations operating within its confines that held views that were a lot more extreme than the BNP's. There were various religious groups, especially Muslim student bodies, that constantly espoused misogynistic, anti-Semitic, anti-Christian and anti-white Western feelings. And this was going on with full support from the Student's Union and the Heads of the college. Is there now amongst the ranks of the liberal-left media and academia one rule for non-whites, and another for the indigenous working-class, who they now so obviously despise!

Dafydd, Wales (18/06/2005 at 14:18)

Why should someone be thrown out of university for belonging to the BNP, which is a legal political party operating entirely within the democratic process? Even if the individual in question has criminal convictions, since when has that been acceptable as justification for denying someone an education? Who are the real fascists in all this, I ask myself?

Andrew Williams, Anglesey (18/06/2005 at 15:55)

I used to live in Oldham. I think most of the people are missing the point. It is unacceptable in the work place for colleagues to assault one another. Those that do are usually summarily dismissed and quite rightly so. Why should universities be any different. Wentworth as a result of this conviction is now unemployable in the Armed Forces, or the Police etc. Further, because it is for violence, he will be excluded from applying for a home with Housing Associations etc, will not be allowed to work with young children, the elderly or the vulnerable.

As for Owens, I will not comment further other than to encourage readers to find out for themselves about him. He is very well known indeed.

Neil, Manchester (20/06/2005 at 23:42)

The students were found guilty of racism and criminal intimidation, so I don't see no reason for them to be allowed to continue to harrass the law-abiding members of the university.

BNP supporters have carried out racist attacks in the Manchester area. I have seen them do it, but my family was threatened not to report it ot the police - they are extremely dangerous individuals indeed

shaun, trafford (21/06/2005 at 13:48)

I thought that the two students involved were found guilty of common assault but apparently this is not the case.
According to Neil,Manchester they were found guilty of "racism" and "criminal intimidation".Under which Act of Parliament are these offences?

Tom, London (29/06/2005 at 17:23)

I know Tony Wentworth and, although we do not agree on political views, he is a decent sort.

People have fights in university student unions all the time, but are rarely punished. If he were to be kicked out for it then fine, but the university then has to throw out anyone who has a fight. Tony's politics - however disagreeable - are irrelivant.

Joe, Manchester (20/07/2005 at 19:08)

I am a member of the BNP and i have seen the type of situation which occurs on campus. The truth is that student unions fail to control elections allowing none union members to get involved against students legitimately standing in union elections. Student Unions and N.U.S are a farce. They claim to promote democracy yet allow intimidation against a candidate because they are BNP. I shocked them when i stood and got 118 first preferrences for the same position at Manchester University the following year. Perhaps now they will see that their actions aren't acceptable to the student community and start a real campaign to promote democracy in this country.

John Moore, Sydney, Australia (19/09/2005 at 10:24)

Ofcourse members of the BNP should be entitled to study and remain on campus, what kind of stupid question is this?

robert gilmoyur, glasgow (06/03/2006 at 18:04)

yes the bnp should be allowed they have the same rights as anyone else

Dr Thomas, Durham (07/03/2006 at 14:09)

A few years back I had to break a fight up in the Union over a cricket match. Two young chaps, one from India and one from Pakistan couldnt see eye-to-eye on an umpires decision. Hell broke loose in the ensuing scuffle! A childish play ground fight! Everyone is entitled to an opinion, as long as it doesnt incite trouble or break the law! Individuals who cant keep their fists in their pockets over a point of view have to search deep within themselves and ask questions. Of course he should stay at University. It is not just about education, it is about free thought, discovery, development. Not about secularising people with different points of view.

()

Report

News