Duo who abused people at Islamic Centre jailed
States of Jersey PoliceA man and woman have been jailed after being found guilty of abusing people outside an Islamic Centre.
The Royal Court heard Tamara Dubois, 37, and Jade Hamon, 52, acted aggressively outside the Jersey Islamic Centre in St Helier during Ramadan in March which included threatening to inject worshippers with pork - a food which is forbidden from consumption in the religion.
Dubois was sentenced to 14 months for one count of threatening and abusive behaviour and three counts of assault, while Hamon was given a six-month sentence for threatening and abusive behaviour.
The pair were also jailed for a further three years each for importing heroin in separate charges.
Witnesses said the pair used phrases such as "sex traffickers", alleged people from the centre were "grooming children" and Hamon also used a racial slur.
The court heard Dubois kicked one of the victims during the incident and also tried to punch them in the face but missed.
A teenage girl who was abused had left Jersey Islamic Centre after Friday prayers and was reading a book on the corner of a road.
They described the pair as "aggressive" and Hamon used a swear word while telling her to stop reading the Quran.
A witness statement from the teenager said she was "scared to leave her house" and worried she could be attacked again.
A man who Dubois assaulted said in a witness statement the "emotional and psychological impact" had stayed with him.
He said he had always thought of Jersey as a welcoming place for his family, but now questioned that.
The judge, Commissioner Alan Binnington, said although the incident may not have started as racist or anti-Islamic, it had quickly became so.
Commissioner Binnington said the pair subjected worshippers to religious abuse and made them fear for their safety at "what should have been a time of peace and reflection".
He said while the incident was opportunistic rather than premeditated, these cases had the potential to "sow division in the wider community... to encourage people who hold racist or anti-Islamic views".
He said it was important the court sent out a message that such behaviour would not be tolerated in Jersey.
Along with the prison sentences, Commissioner Binnington imposed four restraining orders on the pair relating to three victims and area surrounding the centre.
Heroin discovery
In June, while on bail for the abuse and assault offences, Dubois and Hamon travelled to St Malo and were stopped by customs officers arriving back in Jersey, the court heard.
A search found Dubois had 19.09g (0.67oz) of heroin, with an estimated street value between £9,500-£13,300.
Commissioner Binnington said it was a joint venture and the drugs were for personal use.
A search of Hamon's property also found just over a gram of cannabis, for which he faced no further penalty.
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