A Watford FC diversity officer screamed ‘Go back to your country, you bloody Indians’ while throwing punches at Southall station during a violent confrontation with railway staff, a court has heard.
University graduate Ebonnie-Rose John-Jules, 23, was an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer for the Championship club‘s Community Sports & Education Trust.
She was travelling with her friend Naomi Caruana, 23, on May 5 last year when they got into an ugly row with Transport for London (TfL) employee Sasha Da Cunha, who was aided by her colleague Tom Kakeeto.
It was around 6.30pm and Mr Kakeeto had just finished his shift at the Elizabeth Line station in the west of the capital, so was heading home on his bike, Prosecutor Tom Heslop told City of London Magistrates’ Court.
‘He was at the gate when he heard a verbal altercation between the two defendants and his colleague,’ the prosecutor said.
‘He asked them to be civil and that attracted them towards him.
‘Without provocation John-Jules kicks his bike into him and he grabs hold of her, causing John-Jules to fall over.
‘She appears to then remove her earrings and launched into an attack on Mr Kakeeto, punching him to the face.
University graduate Ebonnie-Rose John-Jules, 23, was the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer for Watford FC’s Community Sports & Education Trust
She screamed ‘Go back to your country, you bloody Indians’ while throwing punches at Southall station, west London, during a violent confrontation with railway staff, a court heard
John-Jules is pictured outside City of London Magistrates’ Court, wearing black trousers and a black coat
John-Jules got into an ugly row with Transport for London (TfL) employee Sasha Da Cunha (pictured)
Tom Kakeeto, a Transport for London (TfL) employee, outside City of London Magistrates’ Court
‘This all occurs within the concourse of the railway station as the two defendants were coming out of the station.
‘They are both attacking him, with the majority of the assault carried out by Caruana, but it did begin with John-Jules.
‘Comments were made during this by John-Jules towards Ms Da Cunha, including: “Go back to your country, you bloody Indians.”
‘She also says: “I will not leave the station until I see him bleeding,” and reference is also made to “go back” and “f***ing Indians,” explained Mr Heslop.
John-Jules had denied the charges for over a year, but on the day of her trial finally pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Kakeeto, plus a count of racially-aggravated threatening behaviour.
The court heard John-Jules, who graduated from the University of East London with a degree in Sports Physical Education and Development, has a previous conviction in 2022 for threatening behaviour.
She began her full-time role at Watford FC in April last year, weeks before this offence, after a period employed by Children with Cancer UK as a Sports Events Administrator.
John-Jules, of Towers Road, Southall, also obtained a Master’s degree in International Sports Management from the Global Institute of Sport.
John-Jules had denied the charges for over a year, but on the day of her trial finally pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Kakeeto, plus a count of racially-aggravated threatening behaviour
She was sentenced to a twelve-month community order, which includes 70 hours community service work up to five days of rehabilitation and must pay a £50 fine
Her co-defendant Caruana, of Hounslow, pleaded guilty to assaulting both Mr Kakeeto and Ms Da Cunha and also damaging the male victim’s earpods.
John-Jules was bailed to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on September 11 for a pre-sentence report.
‘We are going to keep all sentencing options open, including custody,’ bench Chairman Paul Brooks told her.
‘You have pleaded guilty to these offences and the most serious one is assault.’
She was sentenced to a twelve-month community order, which includes 70 hours community service work up to five days of rehabilitation and must pay a £50 fine.
Caruana was also ordered to pay a total of £120 compensation to Mr Kakeeto; £50 compensation to Ms Da Cunha, plus £85 costs and a £114 victim surcharge.
‘It is a group attack, unprovoked and is sustained for approximately forty-four seconds,’ Mr Heslop told the court.
‘There were some injuries sustained, an injury to Mr Kakeeto’s chin although it is not known which defendant inflicted it, but they were acting in concert.
‘The comments seemed to have been directed towards Ms Da Cunha.’
In his victim impact statement Mr Kakeeto said: ‘During the incident I was scared and fearful. It was a shock to be attacked like that and uncalled for.
‘I do not wear my uniform to and from work anymore so I am not recognised and it has knocked my confidence.’
Watford FC Community Sports & Education Trust said in a statement: ‘Today we have learnt of the incredibly disappointing news of a former employee of the Watford FC Community Sports & Education Trust being convicted of a serious offence.
‘We have zero tolerance for any form of discrimination or violence and are proud, in partnership with Watford FC, to be one of only two clubs that currently hold the EFL Gold level of the EDI Code of Conduct and the Advanced Health Check Level of Premier League Equality, Diversity Inclusion Standard.
‘The former member of staff failed to disclose the arrest, investigation or proceedings against her as is expected and required in accordance with company policy. Had the Trust been made aware, the member of staff would have been suspended as per company policy pending the outcome of the police investigation. Once found guilty, the member of staff would have been instantly dismissed for gross misconduct.
‘The Community Trust will continue to review its current policy and practices around disclosure of police matters involving employees.
‘Finally and wholeheartedly we would like to pass on our sincere thoughts and best wishes to the victim and we hope the sentence imposed by the Court provides reassurance to them and the community as a whole that such behaviour is not and cannot be tolerated in our society.’
