19 May 2009

BNP mum Helen Forster led kids' race attack

Meet the female face of the BNP - the sneering single mum who led a mob of kids to throw eggs and fire an airgun at an Asian neighbour.

Graphic designer Helen Forster, a paid-up member who produces leaflets for the far right group, was yesterday spared jail after being convicted of intimidation. She was the lone adult urging the hate-filled kids - some only 10 - to shout abuse during the siege at the home of terrified Meherjan Miah, who had previously lodged a complaint to police about a racially-aggravated assault.

But after getting off with a 10 months suspended sentence, mum-of-three Forster, 32 - who has previous convictions for dishonesty and drug possession - failed to apologise. She just defiantly called on the authorities to "move on" Mrs Miah to stop further incidents. She had already shouted threats through Mrs Miah's letterbox and admitted that the eggs thrown in the retaliatory incident last August "may have come" from her fridge.

Maidstone crown court heard that although she had not been found guilty of criminal damage herself, she had "encouraged" the youngsters. They included a cautioned boy of 14 and airgun shooter Matthew Back, then 17, who also walked free as he had spent nine months on remand. He said he only "joined in" because he knew Forster, who lives on benefits in her council house in Gravesend, Kent. She, like Back, also got community service and supervision.

Outside court she said: "I've asked the council to move Mrs Miah on but nothing's happened. And yes, I'm still in the BNP."

Hope message to 'bomb city'

Our Hope not Hate bus yesterday hit Coventry - destroyed by Nazi bombers in WWII. And special issues showing BNP candidate Simon Darby getting Hitler salutes in Italy reminded locals of the peril of voting for racists. Councillors agreed: "We must keep fighting Fascism."

Mirror

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