A woman tried to storm a migrant hotel with a meat cleaver after discovering an asylum seeker in her blind mother's flat allegedly touching himself inappropriately, a court heard. Channay Augustus, 22, was part of a group of around 20 people who attempted to force entry into the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf on Wednesday evening.
The incident began when Augustus found the man whilst cleaning her mother's ground-floor flat, located just five minutes from the hotel. Her lawyer Emma Clements told Thames Magistrates' Court that Augustus discovered the asylum seeker "moving his hand over his groin" before chasing him away.
Hotel confrontation escalates
Augustus went to the Britannia Hotel around 6pm where she confronted security guards who tried to calm her down. She returned with a meat cleaver and began banging it on metal barriers outside the hotel whilst shouting abuse about asylum seekers.
She was later arrested at her home on charges including possession of an offensive weapon, affray, assault on an emergency worker, common assault and cannabis possession. Augustus, an events worker, broke down in tears throughout Friday's hearing with family members present in court.
Court proceedings and custody
District Judge Jane McIvor denied bail despite Augustus's grandmother breaking down in tears during the hearing. Augustus admitted the cannabis charge but indicated she would deny the other offences through her lawyer.
The asylum seeker involved in the initial incident, a man in his early 20s, was arrested Friday morning in Hackney on suspicion of assault. He had been living at the Britannia Hotel which has been designated by the Home Office to house asylum seekers.
Ongoing tensions at hotel
The Britannia International Hotel has become a focal point for protests in recent weeks since Tower Hamlets Council confirmed its handover to accommodate asylum seekers. Last week saw clashes between anti-migrant protesters and counter-demonstrators, resulting in two arrests.
Police had to deploy over 100 officers to contain activists after bottles were thrown and protesters failed to comply with face covering removal orders. Anti-fascist groups arrived at South Quay station with signs reading "no human is illegal" to confront the demonstrations.
Augustus, from Tower Hamlets, was remanded into custody and will appear at Snaresbrook Crown Court on September 12 for the more serious charges.
Sources used: "Daily Mail", "Express", "Independent" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
