The case of two Isle of Wight men, who subjected a Newport resident to racist abuse, threatening to stab him and burn down his house, has prompted a message of reassurance from Hampshire Constabulary. 

At sentencing, a Portsmouth Crown Court judge said racism had been an aggravating factor in the incidents in Newport, in June.

On June 7, a man was attacked in St Johns Road, Newport.

On June 10, in the same street, the same Islander was threatened by Joshua Parker, 29, formerly of Culver Parade, Sandown and Luke Thorpe, 31, of Arnold Road, Cowes and Longfield Road, Kingstanding, Birmingham.

The pair were subsequently arrested.

As the Isle of Wight County Press reported earlier, the pair have now been jailed for more than 70 months between them.

Joshua Parker, 29, also listed from Meadow Green, Newport, was charged with racially aggravated assault by beating (relating to the June 7 incident).

They were both accused of making a threat to kill, threatening to destroy or damage property, and affray.

Joshua Parker was handed 40 months at Portsmouth Crown Court, on October 4 and was ordered to pay a £190 surcharge.

Luke Thorpe was jailed for 32 months, having previously admitted affray (including six months as a result of a suspended sentence being activated) and must pay a £190 surcharge.

Both men were handed a 10 year restraining order relating to the victim.

Reporting hate crimes

Hampshire Constabulary said it wants the victims of hate crime to feel confident about getting in touch.

The force said hate crimes are also often reported by someone who was not directly involved in the incident.

It said: "You do not have to be the victim or even know the victim of a hate incident to report it to the police.

"If you witness an incident, or someone tells you about one, you can report it to us on their behalf."

What is a hate crime?

As National Hate Crime Awareness Week continues, Hampshire Constabulary says a hate crime is one that is 'motivated by hostility, prejudice or hatred towards someone’s actual or perceived race, disability, sexual orientation, faith/religion, gender or age.'

"There can never be any excuse for hate crime in any shape or form and this criminality will not be tolerated," it added.

Report a hate crime via 101, or via the Hampshire Constabulary website.

What should you do if you don't want to speak to the police?

Contacting the police directly is not the only way to report hate crime.

Incidents can also be reported to a Third Party Reporting Centre.

On the Isle of Wight, these are at the Isle Help centre in County Hall, on Newport High Street, via Isle of Wight Pride, at the Riverside Centre, and at Broadlea Primary, in Lake.

Find them, and how to contact them, via THIS LINK