Friday 19 May 2017

Engineer Denies Angry "Terrorist" Slurs At Passport Control

A chartered engineer told Asian Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport: “Your kind are going to let terrorists into the country,” when held-up during a routine passport check, a court heard.

Timothy Alban Wynne-Jones, 54, was told his passport would have to pass a forgery check and allegedly replied: “So, you’re not going to let me into the country. You’re going to let these terrorists into the country.”

Wynne-Jones, of Beechcroft Avenue, Rickmansworth has pleaded not guilty to two counts of racially aggravated harassment towards officers Afsheen Raja and Naheed Yaqub on January 22, last year.

Isleworth Crown Court heard Wynne-Jones presented his British passport at Terminal Four after a trip to Bulgaria.

The microchip could not be opened and when he heard a supervisor named Harpreet was needed Wynne-Jones allegedly responded: “Another Indian? There are far too many Indians protecting the border.”

Prosecutor Mr. Alec Williams told the court: “Rather than wait Mr. Wynne-Jones’ response is to get annoyed and become racially abusive.”

The jury heard that as a bearded Asian male passed through passport control Wynne-Jones added: “Ah look. You’re letting a terrorist through. I’m the only British person here, you’re all terrorists.”

Mr. Williams said Wynne-Jones continued: “Look. A terrorist protecting the border. Brown people should not be protecting the border, you’re all terrorists.”

“He also tried to push through the gate before clearing passport control.”

When questioned by police Wynne-Jones conceded he may have been abrupt, but denied using the racist words.

Officer Raja told the jury: “He seemed a little aggressive, talking quite loudly.

“He said: ‘When are you going to stop letting the Bulgars into the country?’

“He asked me that several times, but I ignored him.”

When his passport was taken for a forgery check Wynne-Jones became more annoyed, the court heard. “He said it was the British government issuing these Mickey Mouse passports.”

When the forgery officer returned he allegedly asked: “Are you checking that I’m British?”

Officer Raja took offence at the ‘your kind’ comment. “I felt because I’m of Asian origin he was referring to my race.”

Officer Yacub told the jury: “He laughed and said to me: ‘Ah look. We have a terrorist protecting the border.’

“He said I wasn’t British and I didn’t have a British passport.”

Trial continues…………  

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