Jailed: Police catch up with man who went on two-day hate fuelled campaign in Northampton
Raheem Bourne has been jailed for six months and fined £12,000 for his crimes against Asian businesses
A man who went on a two-day hate fuelled rampage against Asian businesses in Northampton has been jailed.
Raheem Bourne, 30, of Edith Street, Northampton, caused damage to nine businesses across Northampton’s town centre last Tuesday and Wednesday.
He was charged on Friday and on Saturday (December 13) pleaded guilty to all nine charges of racially/religiously aggravated criminal damage at Northampton Magistrates Court.
Bourne, who was convicted earlier this year for racially motivated harassment, was given a six month prison sentence and ordered to pay £12,000 in compensation.
Over the two days he targeted a number of businesses run by East and South East Asian’s with smashing windows, damaging property and causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.
Matchbox Cafe, and nail bars Hollywood Nails and Pretty Nails in Abington Street in the town’s shopping heart were targeted, as well as UK Nails in nearby Drapery, Ji The Chicken Shop in Mercer’s Row and Mr Liu’s Kitchen round the corner in Bridge Street.
Bourne travelled further out to St Leonard’s Road to damage Oriental Market and also caused damage to restaurants Shanhai House and Ginza on Wellingborough Road.
The crimes had caused concern among the Asian community and Oriental Garden in Northampton had put out a post, saying the community was being targeted ‘time and time again’ and asked for people to support them by buying from the businesses.
Matchbox Cafe held an online fundraiser and received 76 donations totalling £1,025 to pay for a new shop window.
I'm afraid we can expect an increase in racially-motivated crimes as our politicians compete to be "tougher on immigration" than each other because they think it'll win them votes. It's time for normal people who are not motivated by fear or hatred to stand up and be counted so they don't assume they have our tacit approval for their hate crimes.
Absolutely dreadful!
How can anyone commit such a crime because you hate someone who has a different religion or ethnicity or just because you look or speak differently?. Vive la difference that is what I said. How boring will it be if we were all the same. Variety is the spice of life is it not?