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YOUTH SOCCER PULL-OUT RETURNS
Teacher ‘played Dambusters’ at German neighbour EXCLUSIVE REPORT
by Dan Bloom
dbloom@thekmgroup.co.uk
A GERMAN man and his wife went through “hell” when a neighbour spent four years blaring out the themes to Dambusters, Dad’s Army and Rule Britannia, a court heard.
Court hears he blasted out Vera Lynn songs, a Churchill speech and made Nazi salute FULL REPORTS – PAGES 4&5
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The couple claim maths teacher Geoffrey Butler, 54, racially harassed them by playing wartime classics, doing a Nazi salute and broadcasting one of Churchill’s speeches towards their home in Lower Upnor. He strongly denies waging a hate campaign. Reinhard and Kathryn Wendt moved to tranquil Margetts Place in 2007, but they fell out with Butler over a land dispute.
FEUD: Geoffrey Butler, top, denies waging a hate campaign against Reinhard Wendt, left
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Friday, January 13, 2012 Medway Messenger (MM)
Quick thinking stops blaze A NEIGHBOUR stopped a fire from getting out of control. Firefighters were called to Rochester Avenue, Rochester, after a shed caught alight just before 7pm on Tuesday. The crew found that a man who lived next door had been able to stop the flames from spreading by spraying the fire with his garden hose. Medway fire station watch manager Ian Simpson said: “If it wasn’t for the actions of that man then the fire would have most definitely spread. The shed itself was completely destroyed.” The fire is believed to have been caused by a discarded cigarette.
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Don’t mention Teacher accused of making Nazi salutes songs in ‘four-year hate campaign’ with EXCLUSIVE by Dan Bloom dbloom@thekmgroup.co.uk
Graphic account of camp brutality
IT BEGAN with a dispute over a small piece of land. But the row escalated into a classic “neighbours at war” row with a series of claims of racist insults, provocation and even assault. EXTRAORDINARY courage Allegations of Churchill speeches, the Damamid the brutality of Japanese busters theme and Vera Lynn songs deliberately prisoner of war camps is detailed played to a German man and his wife, were made in this week’s Memories page. A in an emotionally-charged hearing at Medway Maggraphic first-hand account from istrates’ Court this week. Reinhard and Kathryn Wendt claim maths one of the survivors, Joseph teacher Geoffrey Butler, 54, racially harassed them Keenan, from Gillingham, shows by playing wartime classics and even doing a Nazi the cruelty experienced by the salute towards them in Lower Upnor. captured British soldiers. Butler strongly denies waging a four-year hate On a lighter note, our Memocampaign by whistling and playing the patriotic ries expert Peter Cook reports music, staring at his neighbours and making needon the hilarious reaction of less complaints about them. Rochester cinema-goers to the The Wendts moved to the tranquil cul-de-sac Marclassic weepy Brief Encounter, getts Place in 2007, but they fell out with Butler over including a marvellous piece of a small triangle ofwland just six feet long. heckling from a female member The Wendts agreed to take the land from Butler of the audience. for free when they moved in, but changed their Geoffrey Butler outside court � Medway Memories see minds when lawyers advised pages 58 & 59 them to spend £500 on surveyors. A retaining wall was falling down, something Butler argued he had made clear from the start. He accused the couple of being dishonest in their dealings and complained the failed deal cost him £256 in solicitors’ fees. The row escalated and Butler, whose family members served We have checked our prices against the in the RAF including one in superstores and other local timber merchants and the 617 “Dambusters” squadwe could possibly save you £££s. We are one of ron, was arrested last May and charged with raciallythe cheapest around for decking products. aggravated harassment. Great prices - why pay Call us today on 01634 360646 The teacher of 28 years told officers: “I haven’t been doing more at a superstore? this. It may happen on the odd ALL PRICES QUICK CHEAPEST PRICE occasion, whatever. Was it illePhone quotes EXCLUDE VAT TIMBER FOUND LOCALLY gal? It wasn’t. I don’t see anything wrong with Dame Vera available SAWN & TREATED TIMBER C16 Lynn. I come from an RAF family.” £1.05 3x2 £1.46 Yet Mr Wendt told Medway Fast delivery magistrates he was having £1.40 4x2 £1.97 or collection nightmares and said: “It was ost Kent’s mnge of £2.10 6x2 £3.23 like waterboarding, after a r exciting - over a while a little whistle was First Choice for SHEET MATERIAL doors to enough. It let me know he was 1,500 m! DIY and Trade there and watching me.” 8 x 4 x 18mm o fr £17.50 £22.45 The songs included Vera choose Shuttering Ply Lynn’s White Cliffs of Dover, Full range of oak wartime hit Maybe it’s Because 8 x 2 x 18mm T & G £6.15 £6.79 doors, door linings, I’m a Londoner and the Colonel Chipboard Flooring Bogey March from Bridge On architrave and skirting the River Kwai. £1.75 145mm Decking £2.25
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Kathyrn and Reinhard Wendt claim neighbour Geoffrey Butler has racially harassed them
‘I don’t see anything wrong with Dame Vera Lynn. I come from an RAF family’ Social worker Mrs Wendt, who broke down in tears giving evidence, said: “It made me feel nervous and intimidated and I didn’t want to go out into my back garden any more. “I just want to live a peaceful life. I haven’t looked for this trouble, I haven’t asked for this trouble and I don’t want to be here.” Mr Wendt, who moved to Britain from Germany in 1999, accused Butler of whis-
tling the war tunes and playing them from his car stereo regularly since 2007. He also claimed Butler would pretend to be on his phone next to the garden fence and talk loudly about Nazis. Butler told officers: “I don’t recall it and it certainly wouldn’t be directed at him.” A two-day trial heard from the Wendts, neighbours and police and was shown recordings, photographic evidence and a diary the Wendts kept. Butler complained to police about the Wendts several times, but said his calls were justified, including one after they posted a neighbourhood watch leaflet through his door. The court heard he would stand on his garage roof and his ladder to stare at the
Teacher claims he was the victim Medway (01634) 375959 or 378128
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GEOFFREY Butler said the Wendts had been the ones harassing him, claiming Mr Wendt called him “Big Head” and spied on him. PC Richard Strable told the court: “Mr Butler said he was the victim.”
Police investigated a separate incident in July 2010 when racist slogans were daubed on Butler’s fence. Butler, who did not believe the Wendts were involved, told officers the offensive messages may have been meant
for his girlfriend, who was Asian, and said: “Somebody in the know was stirring.” Butler was questioned on suspicion of assault after an incident between him and Mr Wendt on July 30, 2007, but no charges were brought.
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the war
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‘He was very aggressive’
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‘It was like waterboarding, after a while a little whistle was enough. It let me know he was there and watching me’ Wendts, but Butler said he was sunbathing as his garden was too shady. Events came to a head last April when the Wendts claimed they were sitting in bed and saw Butler taking a picture of them through the window, which Butler denied. Mr Wendt said: “My wife screams, she points, I look up and Mr Butler is there just 10 yards from our window and he’s holding a camera there pointing at me.” Mr Wendt made a recording on his phone that afternoon, of Butler apparently playing one of Churchill’s war speeches. Five days later, when police were due to interview the war-
ring neighbours, the Wendts claimed they drove home to see Butler in his kitchen making a Nazi salute, mimicking a Hitler moustache with his fingers and shouting. Mr Wendt said he was “jumping about like a madman” but Butler told officers Mr Wendt was the one giving him the salute, adding: “Why would I do that? I find it grossly offensive.” Butler denied racially aggravated harassment, adding he had been out of work since his arrest. He told the court: “I had a job offer for this term at Strood Academy, but as soon as this case was mentioned it was withdrawn. “As a teacher I am subject to enhanced checks which mean unproven allegations can still be mentioned.” The case did not finish on schedule and was adjourned for two months. Butler will take the witness stand on March 19, when he is expected to deliver a catalogue of accusations against the Wendts. If found guilty he could face up to two years’ jail. The trial continues in March.
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116mph driver said he’d had a bad day A MOTORIST who topped 116mph on the notorious A228 Grain Road has escaped a driving ban after his solicitor said he had had a “bad day”. Craig Dorrington was clocked by an unmarked police car last May. Officers followed the 42year-old from Four Elms Hill in Hoo as he travelled towards Grain, where he works. Dorrington repeatedly broke the speed limit which varied between 40 and 70mph. Debbie Jones, prosecuting said: “He was accelerating hard and driving too close to the vehicle in front. He overtook a lorry and continued to go over the speed limit. It was when he reached 116mph that the unmarked police car stopped Mr Dorrington.” Dorrington admitted speeding. His solicitor Wayne Crowhurst said the married father-ofthree commutes from his home in north Wales, to work on the Isle of Grain. He said: “He’d had a really bad day getting held up by other slow vehicles. ” Dorrington was fined £650 and ordered to pay £85 costs. He was also given six penalty points.
and playing wartime German neighbour
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Friday, January 13, 2012 Medway Messenger (MM)
Police became mediators between the disputing neighbours as firstly community support officers, then PCs got involved. PC Richard Strable visited both homes on July 22, 2010, after the Wendts made a complaint of racial abuse. He visited Butler to discuss the allegations, but said: “He was very aggressive and in my face, leaning into me. “He didn’t want to listen to anything I had to say.” PCSO Mandip Clare visited several times and said Butler had always been polite, adding: “Neighbour disputes are very common. “Sometimes we relay messages so both parties don’t get into an altercation.” PC Strable did not take any formal action against Butler in 2010, but told the court: “If I could go back in time I probably would have.”
The quiet street in Lower Upnor became the scene of a bitter feud between neighbours which has ended in court