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URGENT FOR ALL SHIRI SUPPORTERS

Please read the following articles which have appeared in the Torbay local evening paper. The most recent report was published Tuesday 15th May

They relate to the Tory election candidate for Torbay. You will note from these reports that Mr Sweeting has faced these same criminal charges as Shiri - you will also note the obvious differences relating to bail, dropping of the charges and the way that he has been 'dealt with' by the CPS.

An Iranian Asylum seeker facing the same charges has spent three moths in prison, while a close friend of Ann Widdicombe has 'no case to answer'. Shiri was 'fast tracked' to the Crown Court on a prison remand - Sweeting was granted unconditional bail back to the Magistrates Court.

This is a tale of two firearms incidents, handled by the same police force and the same branch of the CPS. Use this information in whatever way and by whichever means possible to highlight the issues and make others aware of. Racism in the criminal justice system must be publicly exposed and challenged at every opportunity.

We must build a massive picket at Exeter Crown Court on Friday 18th May. Please make every effort to attend. Assemble from 9.00am. Bring usual 'visuals' and lobby the press and media to attend.

We believe that there is now a huge 'public interest' factor in Shiri's case. For those wishing to 'raise their public concerns' with the CPS, about their handling of the case against Shiri compared with the case against Sweeting, you may wish to note the following contact information:

CPS DEVON & CORNWALL BRANCH
Chief Crown Prosecutor: Andrew Cresswell
Hawkins House
Pynes Hill Rydon
Lane Exeter
Devon EX2 5SS
Phone: 01392 288000

NO JUSTICE - NO PEACE!

REPORT 1 - TORBAY HERALD EXPRESS: 18th APRIL 2001

TORY CANDIDATE ON GUN CHARGE
Torbay's prospective Tory election candidate Christian Sweeting is to appear before magistrates facing a weapons charge. The charge relates to an alleged incident in the grounds of his family home in Vicarage Road, Chelston, Torquay in the early hours of Bank Holiday Monday. Police were called to the location at about 2.30am.

Mr Sweeting, 33, will appear before Torbay Magistrates Court tomorrow accused of possessing a firearm with intent to cause a person to believe unlawful violence would be used against them. It is understood the weapon allegedly involved is an air rifle.

Mr Sweeting voluntarily surrendered the gun. Today he said he would "strenuously deny" the charge. He had been advised not to go into the full circumstances of the alleged incident because the case is sub judicae, but said he was "shocked and dismayed" by what had happened. He said: "I will strenuously deny that my actions were disproportionate." He said the Conservative party were supporting him.

Shadow home secretary Ann Widdecombe, who was due to visit Torbay today, was Mr Sweeting's parliamentary sponsor and is a close personal friend. Mr Sweeting was selected as the Tory hopeful in Britain's most marginal seat in December 1999 to fight the next General Election. He beat two other finalists for the position, one of whom was Torbay Council leader Richard Cuming. Educated at Tower House School, Paignton and South Devon College, he studied estate management at Oxford Brookes University. A member of the Tory party since joining the Young Conservatives at the age of 14, he is secretary of the Party's national property committee which looks after constituency HQs across the country.

Today Miss Widdecombe had been due to go to Torquay police station to meet district commander Supt Steve Swani, but the venue was changed yesterday. Mr Sweeting said he had asked for the change in venue to avoid causing any embarrassment to local police. Miss Widdecombe was heading instead for the Redcliffe Hotel in Paignton, where she was due to meet Neighbourhood Watch coordinator Bob Brewis. She was also meeting police representatives in Braunton and Bideford as part of her tour of Devon.

REPORT 2 - TORBAY HERALD EXPRESS : 19th APRIL 2001

BACKING FOR TORY HOPEFUL
Shadow Home Secretary Ann Widdecombe gave her backing to Tory candidate Christian Sweeting during a visit to Torbay yesterday. Mr Sweeting, 33, was appearing before Torbay magistrates today charged with a firearms offence. He is accused of possessing a firearm with intent to cause a person to believe unlawful violence would be used against them.

Miss Widdecombe greeted Mr Sweeting when she arrived at the Redcliffe Hotel in Paignton. She warmly embraced him and said: "Bear up" She said she could not comment on the case itself. But she said: "I have known Christian for some time and have great confidence in him as a candidate. Christian believes he responded appropriately to the incident and it's a matter for the courts."

Mr Sweeting said he would deny the charges and would ask magistrates to lift reporting restrictions. He has also received the backing of the Torbay Conservative Association. Jonathan Quinn, the Conservative Party Agent for Torbay, said: "The constituency officers fully support Christian as our prospective parliamentary candidate. The association office has been inundated with messages of support from members of the party and from the general public."

Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators who were at the hotel to discuss law and order issues with Miss Widdecombe yesterday also gave him their support. The charge relates to an alleged incident in the grounds of his family home in Vicarage Road, Chelston, Torquay in the early hours of Bank Holiday Monday. Police were called to the location at about 2.30am. It is understood the weapon allegedly involved is an air rifle.

Miss Widdecombe had been due to go to Torquay police station to meet district commander Supt Steve Swani, but the venue was changed by Mr Sweeting to avoid causing any embarrassment to local police.

REPORT 3 - TORBAY HERALD EXPRESS : 24th APRIL 2001

GUN CHARGE IS DROPPED
A firearms charge against Torbay's Tory election candidate Christian Sweeting has been dropped. Mr Sweeting, 33, of Vicarage Road, Torquay, was charged with possessing a firearm with intent to cause a person to believe unlawful violence would be used against them. He will now face a lesser public order charge of intending to cause another person harassment, alarm or distress.

The firearm charge was dropped at a hearing at Torquay magistrates court yesterday by prosecutor Tony Creech. He said a "considerable amount of thought" had been given to the case since the file had been handed to the Crown Prosecution Service. He said there were "a number of elements missing from the charge, which would make a conviction unlikely". He also said they were considering amending the latest charge. He said: "The Crown will have to ask the police to supply more evidence to that seen on file."

Defending, Rob Newman said he was concerned at the way the matter has been handled by the police. He said: "It shows a degree of a lack of judgement as far as the police are concerned." He added: "My concern is the prejudice suffered by my client, having been charged with a firearm offence, is going to be very difficult to overcome in terms of any trial. "It's akin to being charged with attempted murder and then being charged with attempted assault."

Mr Sweeting spoke in court to confirm his name,address and date of birth. He formally pleaded not guilty and said he "strenuously denied" the charge. It follows an alleged incident at his mother's home on Easter Monday. The case was adjourned until May 15 for a pre-trial review. Mr Sweeting was granted unconditional bail. Magistrates agreed to excuse him from attending the next hearing.

Mr Sweeting was cheered by a group of supporters who had packed the courtroom as he left the building. He said: "May I say thanks to my very many well-wishers here and the support I have had from around the country." He said he did not think the case would make it more difficult for him to fight an election. He added: " I do not think this is something that is necessarily negative which is hanging over me. It gives me an opportunity to campaign further on law and order, and gives me an insight I did not previously have into criminal justice."

Story by Herald Express reporter Jeff Bolitho, who can be contacted via email at JBolitho@westcountrypublications.co.uk

REPORT 4 - TORBAY HERALD EXPRESS : 15th MAY 2001

CHRISTIAN SWEETING - CHARGES DROPPED
Torbay's Tory election candidate Christian Sweeting today spoke of his relief after criminal charges against him were dropped. Mr Sweeting was charged with a firearms offence by police following an incident at his mother's home on Easter Monday. It was later reduced to a public order offence by the prosecution.

But Mr Sweeting, 33, was celebrating after it was announced that the charge was being dropped completely. He said: "Obviously I'm very pleased and relieved. But I'm sad that it's taken them a month to get this far and drop the charge, and that they felt it necessary to bring any charge in the first place."

He was joined by the Shadow Foreign Secretary Francis Maude at Livermead House Hotel, who was in the Bay to campaign for the General Election. Mr Maude said it was "very good news." Mr Sweeting recalled the events leading up to his arrest and charge. He was celebrating his birthday at the family home in Vicarage Road, Chelston, when his mother was disturbed by three intruders at around 2am.

He said: "She called for me and was very considerably distressed. However she seemed to have startled them and they seemed to run". He went out to investigate and took an old airgun with him. "I wasn't prepared to be set upon and thought it prudent to equip myself with some sort of weapon for the purpose of self - defence" he said. "When I went to our sports cupboard it was a choice between my badminton racket or a 30-year-old airgun that was owned by my late father. It hadn't been shot in at least 20 years and was without pellets."

He thanked everyone for their support during his ordeal. "I have received 600 letters and wherever I go people are extremely sympathetic. It's surprising how many people have had slightly similar experiences in terms of feeling that the law is balanced more towards the criminal than the victim."

Mr Sweeting had been charged with causing harassment,alarm or distress. A notice of discontinuance was served on Torbay Magistrates' Court yesterday. Mr Sweeting was awarded costs by the court, although the amount will be decided at a later date.

Story by Herald Express reporter Guy Henderson,who can be contacted via email at GHenderson@westcountrypublications.co.uk