Woman in court for alleged racist assault over parking dispute

The Ilford Recorder reports on the proceedings of a trial at Romford magistrates court involving alleged incidents of racial assault arising from a dispute over parking.

Adeola Adebayo, 24, is charged with 10 offences including five of racially/religiously aggravated common assault, two counts of common assault, one of using threatening words with intent to cause fear or provoke unlawful violence, one assault by beating and one count of criminal damage.

Ms Adebayo pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The court heard the allegations relate to an incident on 3 February at Farnham Green Primary School in Goodmayes.

A parent who was picking up her children from the school at around 3.20pm told the court Miss Adebayo became “aggressive” after she told her she was not properly parked and had been blocking others for about 15 minutes.

The conversation escalated and Abidah Farhanah, who was inside her parents’ home in Regents Garden, said she heard “screaming and shouting” outside.

Miss Farhanah went outside with her father Monir Miah, 61. Mr Miah tried to calm Miss Adebayo but she “pushed him back five times on his chest” making him “move backwards”, he told the court.

Miss Farhanah, who said she was angered by Miss Adebayo’s “erratic” behaviour, started to have an argument with her.

She told the court Ms Adebayo used “filthy language”, swearing at her and her family using the term “p***” and telling them “this is not your f*** country” and “f*** Allah”.”

Ms Adebayo is alleged to have told the Muslim family “I know people. I’m going to come back.”

“It was outside my family home and there were children around. The fact that she was calling me these things did not bother me but it was the racial element of it that angered me – it was in front of my niece and nephew,” Miss Farhanah said.

Mr Miah told the court Miss Adebayo then went back to her car and took out an oil canister from the boot and threatened to burn down his house.

Ms Adebayo allegedly approached the house and kicked the door three times, breaking a side panel and causing £150 worth of damage before driving off.

Miss Adebayo, who is representing herself, is due to give evidence in court today.