Kirkby Jehovah’s Witness attacker is jailed

[1gemstone]

 

^[1]A man has been jailed for attacking two Jehovah’s Witnesses on a street in Kirkby.

A jury convicted Michael Nimmo (35), of Diamond Avenue, Kirkby, of religiously aggravated assault causing actual bodily harm and common assault.

He admitted the assaults but denied any of it was fuelled by religious hostility.

Victim Gerald Thorburn, a self-employed window cleaner, was off work for several weeks after suffering a broken wrist in the daytime assault on Clumber Street on 15th September last year.

Judge Andrew Hamilton, jailing Nimmo for 18 months, told him: “This was a completely unprovoked assault on innocent members of the public who happened to be Jehovah’s Witnesses calling at people’s homes.

“Jehovah’s Witnesses are entitled to walk the street and knock on people’s doors.

“You decided you didn’t like them. You called them ‘Johvos’, were abusive to them and spat at them.”

The jury was told Nimmo ‘got into the faces’ of the two men, asking, ‘what are your views on weed?’

When Mr Thorburn took a photo of Nimmo on his mobile phone, Nimmo grabbed him round the neck and tried to take the phone from him.

Nimmo, in his defence, claimed that when Mr Thorburn spoke to him some spittle accidentally came out, so he spat back. The court was told that Nimmo spat and hit the second man David Wass.

The judge said Nimmo had committed numerous offences in the past and was on prison licence at the time.

The sentence would have been longer but Nimmo had found work and had the support of his partner.

Source: CHAD

http://www.chad.co.uk/news/local/kirkby-jehovah-s-witness-attacker-is-jailed-1-5999207

 

[retroHelen]

This is a known 'rough neighbourhood'.

 

In our congregation, we only work 'rough neighbourhoods' in the 3 towns on our territory in groups where we can keep an eye open for each other.If anyone starts picking on anyone, we can get our cars and get them away as soon as possible. If anyone gets nasty they will see more than 2 of us in the street and only brothers in some neighbourhoods.

 

It's a bit more awkward if brothers/sisters are doing 'return visit work' apart from the Group Ministry arrangement. As it takes a few weeks to cover a map, I try to do my first return visit while the group is still in the area.

 

We have to be so careful and look out for each other because some people are on drugs/medication or have mental health issues and can be aggressive, unpredictable (or have badly trained dogs to it for them) for no proper reason. Thankfully, it is still rare to meet an aggressive person willing to do more than slam a door- I can only think of 3 occasions in the 40+ years of Ministry with 2 congregations.Most areas we work are chatty and friendly or just apathetic. 

[Holly]

When my dad, now 85, was young, before any of us were born, he and another brother were working door to door and they had a shot-gun pulled on them.. my brother, when not even a teen-ager yet, was working door to door, he and my older brother had someone turn a hose on them and get them all wet! 

[SUNRAY]

As conditions get worse the FDS is encouraging us to get more comfortable with Public witnessing...at least we are around people and some who are not at home when we call at their doors can be reached...we are even being encouraged to work alone where and when it is safe to do so...we must be cautious at all times!

coffee breaks or tea breaks are a good time to practice!

[sunshine]

In our area in London, the brothers and sisters all preach within sight of each other, the brother overseeing the group doing regular rounds to check who is where and that they are alright. This will I'm sure become more common as people become more nephlim-like.

[JudyO]

As conditions get worse the FDS is encouraging us to get more comfortable with Public witnessing...at least we are around people and some who are not at home when we call at their doors can be reached...we are even being encouraged to work alone where and when it is safe to do so...we must be cautious at all times!

coffee breaks or tea breaks are a good time to practice!

Yes, public witnessing, letter writing, phone witnessing......all excellent ways to reach more people....