Man who threatened to kill Jews to be sentenced

"A man who shouted death threats at a synagogue manager and other members of the Jewish community in north London is to be sentenced on Friday. Tavius Jean Charles of Hackney, east London, was arrested on 24 March following reports of a man shouting antisemitic abuse and throwing a rock at the window of a moving car. Last month the 36-year-old pleaded guilty to eight offences of religiously aggravated threatening behaviour against six victims and religiously aggravated criminal damage between October 2025 and March 2026."

"The court heard on the afternoon of 16 March while outside Belz Synagogue in Stamford Hill, north London, Jean Charles shouted at at the synagogue's manager Barry Bard and his son that he would "kill not just you" but "all... Jews". A short while later, Joel Scher, who describes his appearance as "orthodox Jewish" heard Jean Charles shout "I will kill you Jews" as he drove past him along Heathland Road in north London. Jean Charles then threw a stone smashing the car's passenger window and causing 205 worth of damage."

"Prosecutor Sam Lyon said Jean Charles was overheard by another man - George Stamatakis - saying into his phone: "It would be good if we blew up one of their schools," on 24 March. On Monday, the court heard that Stamatakis believed Jean Charles was referring to a Jewish school and Jean Charles then asked him: "Are you Jewish?""

"In an impact statement read to Southwark Crown Court, one victim, synagogue manager Barry Bard described Jean Charles as a "danger to society". On 24 November last year, Bard's nephew David Bard was standing outside the Belz Synagogue and Jean Charles demanded to know his personal details, including his address, which Bard refused to give him."

A man from Hackney was arrested after reports of antisemitic abuse and a rock thrown at a moving car near a synagogue in north London. He pleaded guilty to eight offences of religiously aggravated threatening behaviour against six victims and religiously aggravated criminal damage between October 2025 and March 2026. Outside Belz Synagogue in Stamford Hill, he shouted threats at the synagogue manager and his son, including statements about killing Jews. Another person heard him say he would kill Jews as he drove past. He smashed a car passenger window, causing about £205 damage. A prosecutor said he also suggested blowing up a Jewish school. A victim described him as a danger to society, and the court heard he demanded personal details from a synagogue relative.

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