17th November 2007
Darfur 'mixup' led to neo-Nazi funding claim
Mr Joneston mulling the consequences of his alleged mixup |
Arthur Joneston, of Maiden Lane, said that it was simply due to his slight accent owing to a dishwasher incident that he was charged with raising funds for Der Führer.
Live 8
"I was in the pub last week when him what used to be in Travis and Jude Law came on the box and said that some Africans were having a barny," Mr Joneston explained.
"At first I thought it was a trailer for a remake of Zulu so I paid attention, as I was worried that Law would make a hash of it like he did with Alfie.
"But it turned out that the was some genocide and famine in the Sudan instead. As someone who saw both Live Aid and Live 8 – but not Live Earth as I was on holiday at the time – I am naturally concerned for the well being of Africans. So I downed my pint the and went around the pub collecting change for what I thought was the same cause," he added.
Secret 7
However, witnesses in the Dog & Duck claim that Mr Joneston was collecting money for Aryans Arise (Essex branch), a far-right organisation with links to neo-Nazi parties.
Yet Mr Joneston denies this, saying that he simply wanted to help the needy of the Sudan.
"It was simply a case of misunderstanding. I clearly said Darfur, but the punters present chose to hear 'Der Führer'," he insisted in his new local, the Bricklayers Arms.
Sweet 69
"It's such a simple misunderstanding I would laugh, were it not for the fact that I ended up in court. And that could be embarrassing," he added. In addition, Mr Joneston said that he would return the money of anyone who felt duped, but stressed that "he's an honest man".
On Tuesday Mr Joneston admitted to three charges of inciting racial hatred and one of belonging to a member of a proscribed organisation at Brentford magistrates' court.
Live 8
"I was in the pub last week when him what used to be in Travis and Jude Law came on the box and said that some Africans were having a barny," Mr Joneston explained.
"At first I thought it was a trailer for a remake of Zulu so I paid attention, as I was worried that Law would make a hash of it like he did with Alfie.
"But it turned out that the was some genocide and famine in the Sudan instead. As someone who saw both Live Aid and Live 8 – but not Live Earth as I was on holiday at the time – I am naturally concerned for the well being of Africans. So I downed my pint the and went around the pub collecting change for what I thought was the same cause," he added.
Secret 7
However, witnesses in the Dog & Duck claim that Mr Joneston was collecting money for Aryans Arise (Essex branch), a far-right organisation with links to neo-Nazi parties.
Yet Mr Joneston denies this, saying that he simply wanted to help the needy of the Sudan.
"It was simply a case of misunderstanding. I clearly said Darfur, but the punters present chose to hear 'Der Führer'," he insisted in his new local, the Bricklayers Arms.
Sweet 69
"It's such a simple misunderstanding I would laugh, were it not for the fact that I ended up in court. And that could be embarrassing," he added. In addition, Mr Joneston said that he would return the money of anyone who felt duped, but stressed that "he's an honest man".
On Tuesday Mr Joneston admitted to three charges of inciting racial hatred and one of belonging to a member of a proscribed organisation at Brentford magistrates' court.
