A 17-year-old teenager, Aristedes Miles Haynes, has been sentenced for his involvement in a series of racially and homophobically aggravated criminal damage incidents, including the defacement of a Windrush mural with Nazi symbols. Haynes, a former RAF cadet from Port Talbot, was previously shielded by anonymity, but a recent post-sentencing application has exposed his identity.
The Windrush mural, located in Port Talbot, is a poignant tribute featuring a merged image of the Welsh dragon and the Jamaican flag. It pays homage to Donna Campbell, a nurse and daughter of the Windrush generation, who tragically lost her life during the pandemic, alongside her mother Lydia.
Haynes pleaded guilty to three hate crime offences and five terrorism offences during his appearance at Westminster Magistrates Court on June 7. As he turned 18, the anonymity order protecting his identity would have expired this past Sunday.
At his recent appearance before the Old Bailey, Haynes was sentenced to one year and seven months of detention, along with a year on extended license and a three-year community behavioural order.
The investigation into Haynes and a 15-year-old accomplice, from Tonyrefail, began after they committed several racially and homophobically aggravated criminal damage offences. One such incident involved rolling a smoke bomb into The Queer Emporium, an LGBTQ+ business located in Cardiff city centre.
The 15-year-old pleaded guilty to one charge of criminal damage and four charges of racially aggravated criminal damage at Cardiff Youth Court on August 15. He received a referral order for a year, a criminal behavior order for two years, and was ordered to pay £100 in compensation to The Queer Emporium.
Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Williams from Counter Terrorism Policing Wales described the investigation as “extremely detailed,” involving an examination of the boys’ online behavior in addition to their overt activities. Williams stated, “For the older boy in particular, it became evident that he was also involved in the online distribution of extreme right-wing material, which clearly fell into the space governed by terrorism legislation.”
He also emphasised the abhorrent nature of the offences, which caused distress not only within the targeted communities but also among the wider public. Williams concluded, “The sentencing today concludes the investigation and enables professionals to work intensively with them in the hope that they can lead far more productive lives in their respective futures.”
