Racist thug jailed for Bristol attack
A racist bully has been jailed and a teenager given a community order for their part in an attack on Sri Lankan shop assistants in Bristol.
Stephen Monelle, aged 43, of Chelmsford Walk, St Anne's, was locked up for two years at Bristol Crown Court yesterday, for racially aggravated assault, assault and violent disorder during the violence at Birchwood in St Anne's in March.
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Racist thug Stephen Monelle has been jailed for a Bristol attack
James Morris, 18 – who was 17 at the time of the incident and had already spent almost six months remanded in custody before yesterday's hearing – was sentenced to an 18-month supervision order and three-month curfew for affray, two counts of battery, violent disorder and damaging property.
The pair and Ashley Stockham, 18, caused havoc when they entered the shop, from which Monelle and Morris had already been banned after an assault on one of the shopkeepers last October.
Sarah Regan, prosecuting, said on the day in question Sasiyanthan Sriwickramarajasingham and Uthaykumar Subramaniam were at the shop when the three came in at about 4.45pm.
Miss Regan said Monelle was seen pointing his finger aggressively towards Mr Sasiyanthan, saying things to the effect of: "I was born right here in Bristol. You've got to serve me, Paki slave." After some gesturing and shouting, Morris lunged and punched Mr Uthaykumar and Stockman joined in the attack, followed by Monelle.
Mr Uthaykumar picked up a metal rod and Mr Sasiyanthan grabbed a bottle to defend themselves.
When Monelle and Stockman left the premises, Morris started to throw things, including the till, which he hurled towards Mr Sasiyanthan.
Mr Sasiyanthan suffered head, nose, knee, chin and back injuries. His colleague had minor injuries including a swollen forehead and cut mouth.
Judge Michael Longman said: "This was a disgraceful and outrageous incident where two shop assistants were attacked and assaulted in the course of their employment, and for doing no more than their job." He said Monelle had been "boorish" and "bullying" and had set an "outstandingly poor example" to the young men he was with.
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by Jack, Bristol
Sunday, September 13 2009, 7:17PM
“Sri Lankan - You may as well just give Tom the low down on Weston-Super-Mare. He is clearly an idiot who can't quite work out how someone that speaks English as a second language is better at it than him.
Tom, do you say gert?”
by Sri, Lankan
Sunday, September 13 2009, 5:58PM
“Tom, I came to live in the west country as I met someone at university who was from here. I arrived in England as a teenager as my parents believed it would give us a better future. In that, they were partially right. I'm not sure if the education I had here was better, but at least I was able to find temporary work in shops and as a cleaner, save enough money to put myself through 3 years of full-time education. Had I gone to uni in SriLanka, it would have bankrupted my parents at the time. Things are different now - that country lives on credit as much as anywhere else.
Having gone to school in SriLanka's capital, I was in a privileged position being able to meet people from all over the world. We were instinctively interested in these people and their culture. I learnt from a young age that there are diiferences between someone, who for example, orignates from Redland and another who was born in Bilbao. Outwardly, they looked similar.
Most SriLankans I know who run shops are hard working. When you come from a poor country, you know the need for hard work to support youself and your family. The average wage in SriLanka is about 50 pounds sterling a month. Fuel is slightly cheaper than here, but many other things cost more-or-less the same. People I know there with children tell me they want the same things as those here; the latest mobile, the most popular gadget, brand name clothes etc. A friend who has 3 children said he couldn't afford to take them all to pizza hut at the same time. They are happy to go with him, one at a time. When I last took my children - now young adults - to Pizza hut recently, I thought it was the cheaper option! ;-)
Please don't just take my word for it. Visit SriLanka if you can. A tour operator like Hayes & Jarvis will do a good deal. You will enjoy all, if not most of the experience. If you visit a shop there, people will surround you and try and sell you everything. They will always call you 'sir'. That's not because they think you are better than them; it's a normal sign of respect in Srilankan society.”
by James, Stapleton
Sunday, September 13 2009, 5:43PM
“another british person jailed for telling the truth but i guess im racist ??
CHRIS, kingswood
Read the article again it says he was jailed for "for racially aggravated assault, assault and violent disorder".
I suppose in the your mind violence against ethnic minorities should not be a crime at all.
You are right about one thing though Chris, you ARE a racist!!”
by Irish, Bristol
Sunday, September 13 2009, 5:34PM
“Fair enough Tom / KB1690 point taken!
Continue your bullying of Sri Lankan, none of my business.”
by Tom, Briz
Sunday, September 13 2009, 5:00PM
“Irish, Bristol,
I don't remember addressing my post to you. If I feel like discussing something on your intellectual level I'll scrape it off the sole of my shoe first.”