Mum attacked three cops after racist cab rampage
April 25, 2011
A care worker went berserk in a taxi – launching a racist tirade against the driver then assaulting three police officers.
Vicky Bedward, 28, punched and kicked two cops then spat in another’s face after her husband, Arron, threatened the cabbie, a court heard.
It took four officers to finally restrain her, a judge was told.
Police had been called after Mrs Bedward, who has a young son, racially abused the taxi driver in a drunken rage.
She also smashed the glass separating the passengers from the driver, causing £337 damage.
Mr Bedward, 29, a security worker and former marine, was also hauled before the courts for his part in the ‘disgraceful’ incident.
He swore at the victim and threatened to ‘smash his head in’ after disagreeing with the driver’s route through Salford Quays.
Both he and Mrs Bedward, a care assistant, have now lost their jobs as a result of the incident, a judge was told.
Mr Bedward was working in security for the UK Border Agency when the incident happened.
The defendants, of Brindle Heath Road, Pendleton, Salford, were both sentenced at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court after pleading guilty to offences relating to the incident.
Mr Bedward admitted a public order offence.
He did not assault anyone and his actions were not racially motivated, the judge heard.
Mrs Bedward pleaded guilty to racially aggravated criminal damage and assaulting three police officers.
The incident occurred at around 1.30am on Sunday, June 20 last year.
Adrian Farrow, prosecuting, said Mr Bedward threatened to attack the driver after disagreeing with the route, and when police arrived his wife assaulted three officers.
She punched an officer on the arm and kicked another in the shins, then spat at a third after she was arrested, the court heard.
Four officers were involved before she was ‘eventually subdued’, Mr Farrow said.
Lianne Birkett, defending Mrs Bedward, said her client could remember ‘very little’ about the attack because she was so drunk.
She lost her job after 10 years as a care assistant and had a young son to look after, Miss Birkett added.
Carolyn Smith, defending Mr Bedward, said her client showed ‘genuine, heartfelt remorse for his actions’ and had also lost his job at the UKBA.
Mr Bedward was given a 12-month conditional discharge.
His wife was given a 12-month community order, with 60 hours of unpaid work and six months’ supervision. She must also pay for the damage to the taxi.
Judge Adrian Smith told Mr Bedward: “You have had to deal with very difficult members of the public, and now you have been a very difficult member of the public yourself.
“You were both in the taxi and you behaved disgracefully.”
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![Racist gang told teenagers: ‘You can’t wear England shirts’
Published: 12/03/2012 15:16 - Updated: 12/03/2012 15:39
A racist attack started when a group of boys told three brothers they could not wear England football shirts because their skin was brown, a youth court heard.
The four boys, all aged 13 and 14, shouted racial abuse and launched an attack that left one of the victims needing hospital treatment.
Delia Matthews, prosecuting, said the three brothers, aged 11, 14 and 17, were playing football in the Orchard Park play area at 5.30pm on January 24. One of the youths said to one of them: “Why are you wearing an England shirt? You’re brown.”
More racist abuse was shouted before one of the boys launched an attack and a “bundle” took place. The victim suffered a black eye, needing hospital treatment and another was injured in the shoulder.
In victim statements read out in court, the eldest brother said: “It made us feel sick to our stomachs and angry. We’ve lived in Orchard Park for 18 months and never had any problems.”
The court also heard the younger victims are now not allowed to play outside in case they are attacked.
Harvey Harrison, presiding magistrate, said: “This sort of gang attitude of one for all ended you all up in trouble. It’s this gang culture and you set upon this family who were out playing.”
Veronica Candy and Michael Hinchliffe, mitigating for the teens, said they were ashamed of their behaviour and knew it was wrong.
Each of them stood up in court and said they regretted what they had done.
Mr Harrison, sentencing, said: “You’ve brought shame on yourselves, on your families and on society generally. It’s a multi-cultural and ethical society and you have to learn to live with it, whatever people’s colour or creed.
“You’ve altered and probably spoilt their [the victims’] teenage years. Now they’re always going to be looking over their shoulders because of what you’ve done.”
The two 13-year-olds and a 14-year-old, all from Cambridge, admitted racially aggravated common assault. They each got a nine-month youth referral order and must pay £25 each in compensation to the victims.
Another 14-year-old pleaded guilty to causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm and distress. He received an eight-month youth referral order. All four have to pay £70 costs.
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