Maidstone woman, who bit Muslim taxi driver, found guilty of racially aggravated assault
Categories: Latest News
Tuesday February 20 2018
A woman from Maidstone, Frankie Jo Schock, has been found guilty by the Maidstone Magistrates Court of biting a Muslim taxi driver.
The court heard that the defendant bit the Muslim driver in a drunken state after asking the driver whether he was a “good or bad Muslim”.
It was detailed that Ms. Schock got into the cab intoxicated by alcohol, and started discussing the Manchester bombing which had occurred a few days prior.
She subsequently questioned the driver on his views on the topic and whether he was a “good or bad Muslim”.
Over the course of the conversation Ms. Schock got increasingly aggressive and proceeded to assault him, leaving bite marks on the driver’s arms.
Pulling up at Pevensey Court, Ms. Schock called for her then boyfriend, Sam Wood, who came and joined the assault against the driver.
The magistrates heard that Mr. Wood repeatedly punched the driver in the face and head.
Ms. Shock denied all memory of the incident; however, she admitted she remembered discussing the Manchester bombing in the cab.
Ms. Schock was found guilty of racially aggravated assault by the court. The sentencing is to be held on the 13th of March 2018.
Mr Wood was charged with assault – not racially aggravated – which he accepted. He is currently on bail for a probation hearing
The Kent Police Force reported 1,466 racially aggravated incidents in 2016/17, an increase of more than 50% on the previous year (955).
It is important that anyone who believes they are in immediate danger from a prejudice-based hate crime should contact the police as soon as possible on 999. If not in immediate danger, or if you have suffered a prejudice-based hate crime in the past, then you can report it using the non-emergency number 101.
You can also – in addition to the police – report any Islamophobic hate crime to MEND’s Islamophobia Response Unit (IRU) here. This allows us to monitor levels of abuse and compile accurate data on the levels of Islamophobia.
The IRU can also help you contact and deal with the police (if you choose to do so), and signpost you towards free legal advice and emotional support that may be available.