After a Salford man threatened to cut the throats of Jewish men while they were on their way to synagogue on Wednesday, the suspect was charged with multiple hate crime offenses on Friday, according to the Crown Prosecution Service and Salford Police.
65-year-old Wayne Kelly pleaded guilty to charges of racially aggravated common assault, two charges of racially aggravated intentional harassment alarm, and two charges of racially aggravated harassment before a Manchester Magistrates Court judge on Friday.
While walking his dog on Wednesday evening, Kelly came across a group of Jewish men and shouted antisemitic abuse at them, according to CPS. The victims contacted a Jewish volunteer helpline, and residents came to help.
Kelly reportedly continued to shout abuse, threats, and refer to historic atrocities against Jews. He allegedly threatened to go home to retrieve knives so that he could cut their throats. Kelly removed his coat and moved toward one of the victims with clenched fists, but another Jewish man stepped between them and prevented a physical assault.
On Thursday, Salford police said on Facebook that they had arrested the suspect at the scene. CPS said that Kelly had continued to shout antisemitic abuse at a nearby Jewish child as he was being led to the police vehicle.
One of the victims later told officers that he recognized Kelly from a previous March 12 incident, when the offender had banged on his car and shouted antisemitic abuse while he was parked on the street, according to CPS.
Police chief denounces antisemitic behavior
“In this targeted attack, Wayne Kelly hurled vile antisemitic abuse at Jewish men who were on their way to a synagogue. Not content with shouting abuse, Kelly also threatened the man and made references to historic atrocities committed against Jewish people,” CPS Chief Crown Prosecutor Sarah Hammond said in a press statement. “The strength of the evidence left Kelly with little option but to admit the offences.”
Salford Police Superintendent Yanica Weir said on Facebook on Thursday that the force would “not tolerate this kind of behavior and intimidation against any members of our community. We will come after offenders.”
The swift prosecution comes after the CPS announced on Monday that it was updating its legal guidelines to facilitate quicker charging decisions regarding hate crime incidents. The guidelines were updated in response to a wave of antisemitic incidents in the UK.