At 3pm on Saturday, Adam made a spur-of-the-moment decision to join the sit-in at the luxury London grocers Fortnum & Mason.
All jolly good fun, eh, Adam? Whoops! Guess not:
Yesterday, though, the 25-year-old teacher from west London found himself facing a criminal charge and fearing for his career.
Not so jolly fun now, is it?
He was one of 138 people at the demonstration who have been charged with aggravated trespass after being arrested by riot police outside the store on Piccadilly, and spending up to 24 hours in cells at police stations around the capital.
Oh noes!
Adam is so fearful that his arrest may lead to recriminations from his employer that he asked for his name to be changed.
If you’re convicted, you have to tell them
anyway. Cretin.
He said: "It was the first cuts protest I had attended. I was on the regular march [TUC-organised] and then I met three friends. We decided we wanted to join UK Uncut, so we went inside Fortnum & Mason. It was very peaceful, no violence and no one asked me to leave. I did not think I would be arrested at any point, I had not even thought about it. What the police said to us all before we left was that the only people who could be arrested would be those who had committed criminal damage. I thought I haven't done anything like that so there was no way I could be arrested."
Should someone so obviously naive be a teacher in the first place? I bet the kids run absolute rings round him…
He added: "I am upset by the dishonesty of the police and very angry at how long they kept us [in cells]. I worry that if I get a criminal record, it could affect my work. I want to keep working in education and you don't want the kids reading about this sort of thing or their parents – they could make a fuss."
And they’d be quite right to do so.
Fortnum & Mason said the loss of trade during the protest would cost it about £80,000 but physical losses were restricted to the theft of a number of bottles of wine or champagne and slogans which had been daubed on to the exterior of the building.
I hope, for Adam’s sake, that those slogans were at least correctly spelt…
No wonder our schools turn out such morons!
ReplyDeleteProper ROFL for Adam. Did he really get to 25 without dying of stupidity?
The founder of UK Uncut, Thom Castello refers to his period at the front of the classroom as "teaching children homosexuality". Says quite a lot.
I can't see a far-left teacher getting fired - if they applied that rule most schools would close
ReplyDeleteIn all fairness, the guy was unlucky. He was unlucky to meet these three friends on a peaceful day out, and very unlucky that at least one of them had heard of UK Uncut (why do I still think this is an anagram of something obscene?) and also knew where Fortnum and Mason was.
ReplyDeleteHe was also even more unlucky he was arrested by police officers who had cells waiting and the willingness to charge him, as well as apparently being dishonest (though he might like to provide evidence of that).
He is also very, very unlucky in that the kids (usually they are called pupils or students) can actually read so they will know what Mr A Nony Mouse has been doing.
Diddums got caught? Now he's scared of being fired because he was too dumb to see the possible consequences. Poor ickle baby!
ReplyDeleteIn a retrospective moment last week, I found myself thinking that, if we were to construct our own version of the Golgafrinchan B Ark, we could have directed the entire march into it and blasted them off into outer space to turn some distant planet into a state-subsidised Utopia, complete with leaves as the official currency.
ReplyDeleteYoung Adam sounds like a prime candidate for the mission.
It's not an anagram, it's a reference to uncircumcised penises.
ReplyDeleteHa Ha Ha ...
ReplyDeleteMy heart pumps purple piss for him ..
Can't do the "time" ? .. Don't do the "crime" ..
Let's see, joins a protest with a very high probability of violence. Takes part in a "UK Uncut" media event involving criminal damage and trespass (an organisation with what may be termed "previous" for this sort of thing). Gets nicked while actually there (now that's new!) and is now screaming "foul" because there are consequences to his actions!
ReplyDeleteWhat does he teach? The bleeding obvious? I dread to think what he actually teaches...
By the way, good luck with the enhanced CRB as the arrest will count too!
TTFN :)
He would have got a bravo from me if he had stuck by his guns and showed no regret whatsoever, however he could do better than whinge.
ReplyDeleteAs for aggravated trespass, I hope the next shower of fecking pikies that squat on public land get charged with the same crime. I bet fecking not.
'Wasn't my fault! Big boys made me do it! And the nathty pleeth twicked uth!'
ReplyDeleteI believe this may well be the "Adam" referred to in this post .. in which case, yet another little rich boy with sod all to complain about ..
ReplyDeleteBut with all the balls of a Gnat ..
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1370966/TUC-anti-cuts-London-march-Fortnum-Masons-invader-Adam-Ramsay.html
Just when you think the filth couldn't get any more useless they go and redeem themselves. Bang to rights, my sahn!
ReplyDeleteActions have consequences, perhaps they should teach that in schools. Arab proverb; "Take what you want and pay for it."
ReplyDeleteprotesters were calm, peaceful and assured by officers they could leave the shop without fear of arrest as long as they had committed no damage.
ReplyDeleteJust a guess that the Old Bill may have asked them to leave peacefully, with no arrests except for the ones that had caused damage.
And when none of them moved, they ALL got nicked for Aggravated trespass.
Adam, your headmaster will be checking which teachers take a day off on the Court date....'
Adam is a 1st cousin and my name is John Leon, although I have used my google account name to post this comment. I recognise some of the authors of the comments as I have sometimes read their blogs , in most cases you have just proven what unimaginative, bigoted, ignorant, ungenerous, persons you are. You do not know Adam, or any of his/my family and whilst you might think it appropriate to bully someone who is the victim of unfortunate circumstances, presumably to bolster your pathetic egos from behind the anonominity of the internet, I think you are bankrupt of honour and for all your pretense otherwise, exhibit a dismal lack of humanity.
ReplyDeleteBefore you try to tell me what a softy walter toff I am, I have worked in Industry all my life, e.g. hard bloody graft, like 15 hour days crawling about the insides of industrial boilers to driving articulated trucks to eastern Europe to mechaniking at the Le Mans 24 hour races with all the bollocks that entails from so called officious people who got to be in charge of people by who they knew, all in all remarkably similar to most bloggers/commenters here in fact.
I suggest in future you spend some time researching the subjects you choose to comment on, because from the drivel that I have read so far, you really are in no position to expect anybody intelliogent to be in areement with anything you have written.
Don't worry Johnny, I'm sure the courts will take your sob story into account.
ReplyDelete"...someone who is the victim of unfortunate circumstances..."
ReplyDeleteYeah, I know what you mean, John.
I just hate it when I find myself up in town, doing a bit of shopping, seeing the sights and then....*whoosh*....suddenly I find myself attempting to 'occupy' a department store along with some friends who unaccountably turn out to me rabble-rousing self-proclaimed anarchists.
And them when circumstances compel me to shoot my mouth off to a national newspaper and make myself look not just an idiot on Saturdays, but an idiot pretty much 24/7/365...
Don't judge me. I'm just a victim of circumstance!
"in most cases you have just proven what unimaginative, bigoted, ignorant, ungenerous, persons you are"
ReplyDeleteAs opposed to those people and louts who went to London to make trouble, cause damage and generally inconvenience the non-troublemakers.
Can we suggest, unless you are a troll, Mr Leon, that you look at the reality of it and the fact that dear cousin Adam was stupid enough to get caught up in at all. He didn't have to go, spur of the moment or not. He didn't have to join the event at Fortnum and Mason.
All he had to do was steer clear of trouble, and he couldn't.
There are consequences to actions, as he found out, and that no doubt now troubles him deeply.
No Anonymous, I am not a Troll I am who I say I am, John Leon, unlike yourself and someone who knows with a very clear and wide understanding how easy it is to get caught up in, completely innocently, very unsavoury situations. Adam is not stupid, naive perhaps and quite likely lured into a situation he could never imagine ending up the way it did and then being naturally terrified and ashamed of what he had been involved in. In my opinion, he was set up, and if you don't have experience of how deliberately unpleasent people can be, it is easy to be charmed into doing sensless things. Act in haste, repent in leisure. is a hard lesson to learn.
ReplyDeleteJuliaM, I thought you more intelligent than this, obviously you are very well aquainted with Adam, to be able to make such concise criticisms about him; time to get hold of and suppress that bigotry, NO one short of a severely handicapped parapleigic is an idiot 365 days a year. how many people were at the demonstration? but you have to join the herd and criticise one young lad who got himself into a unenviable situation, why, perhaps because he comes from a family with a long history who happen to own a small estate in Scotland, who you believe should be berated because they are now in the limelight and are fair game for your particular perspectives on people who get out and live a bit, even if recklessly/idiodically, rather than hide behind toughie sounding avatars , I know, I read your blog.
I'm sure the courts will take your sob story into account; Anonymous, trying to be clever when you show such ignorance of the U.K. legal system only makes you look more pathetic than the name you hide behind.
'All he had to do was steer clear of trouble', Yes, I can imagine the architects of the mob actions imforming the authorities of their plans for creating chaos.
Ultimately there were many more people than Adam that got their collars felt, how about displaying some uncharacteristic generosity by spreading your vitriolic bile a bit further to spatter some others more deserving of it.
Johnnyrvf : "who got himself into"
ReplyDeleteDo I detect a smattering of acceptance of personal responsibility...albeit on his behalf ?
It's reasonable to assume that absolutely no one held a gun to his head. He joined in of his own free will and was absolutely aware that his actions were unlawful.
Come on...he's not 5.
Enabling victim status does him a great disservice and paints him as weak and pathetic. You would serve him better by supporting him to accept the consequences of his actions and takes whatever punishment is coming his way.
Crying victim falls on deaf ears. The UK is suffering from Extreme Victim Overload. We're past caring.
If you truly care then help him man-up ...or wipe his arse forever more. Your choice.
It might help you to remember:
"Reasons" are NOT "Excuses"
This all sounds rather like the Family "damage limitation" machinery limping into action ..
ReplyDeleteAnd if the rest of the Family are as pathetic & gutless as the two so far identified .. then God help us ..
Johnnyrvf .. I suggest you simply do one, because quite frankly .. you're a sad joke son ..
"No wonder our schools turn out such morons!"
ReplyDeleteIndeed.
"In all fairness, the guy was unlucky."
That seems to be Johnnyrvf's point. I believe you make your own luck.
"...if we were to construct our own version of the Golgafrinchan B Ark, we could have directed the entire march into it ..."
What a capital idea!
"By the way, good luck with the enhanced CRB as the arrest will count too!"
Good point.
"As for aggravated trespass, I hope the next shower of fecking pikies that squat on public land get charged with the same crime."
ReplyDeleteQuite! I guess teachers aren't the 'protected minority' they think they are.
"I believe this may well be the "Adam" referred to in this post.."
I don't think so, there's no mention of him having a teaching position.
"Just a guess that the Old Bill may have asked them to leave peacefully, with no arrests except for the ones that had caused damage.
And when none of them moved, they ALL got nicked for Aggravated trespass. "
That's a real possibility. It seems the lawyers are sniffing around this one; a lawfirm was Tweeting requests for people involved to come to a meeting about it.
Looks like they are planning a 'police lied, waaah!' defence.
"No Anonymous, I am not a Troll I am who I say I am, John Leon, unlike yourself..."
ReplyDelete'Troll' does not mean 'someone who is pointing out uncomfortable facts', John. However much you might want it too.
" In my opinion, he was set up..."
By whom? By his three friends?
"...how many people were at the demonstration? but you have to join the herd and criticise one young lad who got himself into a unenviable situation..."
That 'the herd' are all saying that they feel that this action is the sort of thing that should not be tolerated is something you, and your cousin, may want to reflect on.
And I don't know - or care - where your cousin comes from. What's 'his family estate' got to do with anything?
Are you saying he IS the person in Capt Haddock's link?
"...who you believe should be berated because they are now in the limelight.."
No, it's not his notoriety that gives me leave to berate him, but his actions.
And his actions since, in flailing about in the media trying to claim 'big boys did it and ran away!'.
He needs to man up.
"...people who get out and live a bit, even if recklessly/idiodically, rather than hide behind toughie sounding avatars , I know, I read your blog."
ReplyDeleteDamn, you've rumbled me! I don't live, laugh, work, socialise. I'm just chained to this desk all day...
/facepalm
"'All he had to do was steer clear of trouble', Yes, I can imagine the architects of the mob actions imforming the authorities of their plans for creating chaos. "
Your defence is that your cousin was stupid? He couldn't anticipate that this sort of action was likely to lead to trouble?
Tell me, is he a rugby man? Because there's a game at the weekend, and I was thinking of bringing over a few friends to sit - peacefully, of course! - in his lounge, blocking his view of the tv and chanting slogans.
I'm sure he won't mind, or call the police. Right?
"Ultimately there were many more people than Adam that got their collars felt, how about displaying some uncharacteristic generosity by spreading your vitriolic bile a bit further to spatter some others more deserving of it."
It's a deal! When they appear in the media trying to excuse their behaviour, I'll get right on it.
"It might help you to remember:
"Reasons" are NOT "Excuses""
Exactly!
"NO one short of a severely handicapped parapleigic is an idiot 365 days a year."
ReplyDeleteThis in a rant against Julia's alleged bigotry is priceless. I have known a number of severely handicapped tetraplegics who could eat you for breakfast Johnniervf and then stack the bones in the shower. look, face it your cousin was a twat. Both my parents were teachers and you wanna make it a career you do your level best not to be scrobbled by the rozzers. Every teacher in this land knows the CRB process. Every teacher in this land knows they have to keep their noses clean. So cuz Adam should have walked away. Walking away from things is very easy.
All this makes me feel better about the Leeds Service Crew. At least we never had to listen to those guys explaining about how society made them trash a pub outside Old Trafford.
ReplyDeleteThe classic middle-class sense of entitlement - in this case the entitlement to do what they want without those ruffians from the police getting involved. How bloody dare they! As an adult, 'Adam' will be expected to take responsibility for his own actions. No doubt he has decided it is all the fault of the police. Not sure if that is a defence under law...
ReplyDeleteXX Johnnyrvf said...
ReplyDeletein most cases you have just proven what unimaginative, bigoted, ignorant, ungenerous, persons you are. You do not know Adam, or any of his/my family XX
This is rapidly becoming "The chav chant", is it not?
'As for aggravated trespass, I hope the next shower of fecking pikies that squat on public land get charged with the same crime. I bet fecking not'.
ReplyDeleteSpot on-the Police appear once again to be going for the low -hanging fruit. Almost all of the arrests made on Saturday were from the UK Uncut crowd in Fortnum & Mason- the more violent hard core anarchists roaming the streets outside were pretty well left to their own devices.
Furor Teutonicus:XX You do not know Adam, or any of his/my family XX
ReplyDeleteThis is rapidly becoming "The chav chant", is it not?
.
Indeed. I was once screeched at and threatened with a retribution that never materialised by an unwashed pregnant pyjama-clad female neighbour...for remarking to her boyfriend that yocking on the pavement outside my home was disgusting for my children to see and have to play around.
.
She finished with the classic "you don't know noffin about me". I responded with a sweeping wave of my hand from her head to her toes saying "THIS tells me ALL I need to know."
.
She was speechless and walked away crying...genuinely upset at the realisation of just how badly she had let herself down. She eventually apologised and took responsibility. A shame they all don't or can't.