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Tycoon held in race row  

Detained ... John Marks

By JOHN SCOTT and JOHN KAY

A TYCOON was taken off a jet and held for five hours — for asking an Asian air worker where she was from.

Multi-millionaire John Marks, 50, was detained in handcuffs following an exchange with the woman at a departure gate at Birmingham Airport.

As the Servisair employee looked through his travel documents, he asked: “Where do you come from?”

When she replied, “Birmingham” the 6ft 4in, 17st businessman asked: “No, where are you from originally?”

He had another run-in with the same worker when he tried to board the Air Malta flight before his seat number had been called.

A business colleague travelling to Malta with him asked him why there was a problem and he answered, spelling out the final word: “Maybe it’s because I'm w-h-i-t-e.”

Mr Marks finally boarded the plane but just before take-off he was asked to get off by the cabin crew.

Two policemen were waiting outside to arrest him.

He was driven to Chelmsley Wood police station and held for five hours in a cell before being released on bail pending further inquiries.

Police said he had been arrested on suspicion of “racially aggravated fear of provocation of violence”.

But last night Mr Marks, managing director of a financial services company with offices in South-East Asia, insisted: “I am not a racist.

“The question about where the woman came from was a genuine inquiry. At no time did I threaten violence or try to be racially insulting. I felt an atmosphere developing so did not prolong the conversation.”

Mr Marks, who has no previous convictions, said he only tried to board the flight early because he had a Frequent Flyer card.

And he insisted his comment about being white was addressed only to his colleague.

A spokesman for Servisair, the ground handling agents for Air Malta, said the woman and an Asian workmate had felt they were being racially abused verbally.

A legal expert said the charge covered allegedly racist comments being made which led someone to believe they could be the target for violence.

 

Oldham Evening Chronicle SPORT

‘Head played down vicious race attack’

THE mother of a pupil who was repeatedly kicked in the head on his way home from school has said that teachers are turning a blind eye to racially-motivated attacks.

Ryan Smith (15), was assaulted as he walked through an alleyway to the bus stop on the way back from St Augustine of Canterbury School in Werneth.

Ryan and a friend claimed they were approached by nine young men of Asian origin in the unprovoked attack.

“They tried to run, but there was nowhere to go,” said his mother, Angela. “He was dragged to the ground and kicked and punched in the face, back, chest and legs.”

The attack was interrupted by passers-by and the two shaken boys were taken back to school where teachers booked taxis to ferry them home.

“Despite telling staff he had been kicked repeatedly in the head he was not taken to hospital,” said Mrs Smith. “Head injuries can be very serious and I would have expected them to take him to casualty, not just drop him home.

“As it was, I took him to hospital and the doctors said that we had definitely done the right thing.”

Mrs Smith, from Clarksfield, went into the school to complain the next day, but is worried that her concerns were not taken seriously.

“There have been problems in and out of school for some time, but the head teacher is burying his head in the sand,” she said.

“When I went in to complain he said he was aware of the issue but he wanted to keep it low key. I believe that he didn’t send Ryan straight to hospital because he didn’t want to draw attention to the problems.

“I don’t think it’s fair that a child should be delayed in going to hospital because the school doesn’t want to face up to what’s happening.

“Ryan really took some knocks — he’s very badly bruised and has been left shaken.

“Something needs to be done before another child is attacked. Next time it could be a lot more serious.”

Mrs Smith believes that her son was assaulted as a reprisal for an attack on another child. “An Asian pupil was hurt by a gang of white lads last week,” she said. “Ryan wasn’t involved in that, but we think it was a reprisal.

“This was not a normal attack. Both boys had phones and jewellery, but nothing was taken.

“The gang covered their faces with scarves — it was planned out.”

John Kennedy, head teacher of St Augustine’s, said: “This was a horrible attack, but these things have to be kept in proportion.

“We didn’t send Ryan to hospital because his injuries didn’t seem that bad. Instead, we thought it was more appropriate to send both boys home in taxis to their parents.

“This is an isolated incident and we have reported it to the police.”

When asked if he believed the attack to be a reprisal for the earlier racist incident, he said: “There was a fracas in school last week, but there is nothing to say that the two incidents are linked.”

Superintendent Stuart Harman from Oldham police said: “We believe this incident was racially-motivated and we are treating it as such. We take all reports of discrimination seriously and members of the public should be reassured this assault will be thoroughly investigated.

“Be aware that police in Oldham will not tolerate any incidents of violence, particularly racial. We are committed to working with our communities to tackle any form of discrimination and ensuring people in Oldham can live safely.”

Anyone who witnessed the assault or has any information can contact the police on 0161-856 8927 or the community beat officer on 07770-837569. Alternatively please call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555 111.

© Oldham Evening Chronicle 2004