Local video activist unfairly jailed

south west | miscellaneous | news report Sunday November 04, 2007 19:03 by ian ian at videonetwork dot org

In a surprise verdict local video activist 'videotony' gets sent down

i-contact video network has known and worked with local video activist 'VideoTony' for a number of years and we're all surprised and shocked to learn that he's successfully been fitted up by the old bill.

VideoTony ( Anthony Cripps ) has covered many protests such as J18, working closely with Oxfords 'Undercurrents' and has most recently been involved with the nine ladies campaign and the Plymouth anti-trident campaign.

Videotony lives in Ottery St-Mary, Devon and is being accused of kidnapping a member of notorius bike gang 'Satans slaves'. Needless to say we all believe the whole case to be a fit up... Reports are emmerging of a shocking performance by his barrister. He's due for sentencing on May 24th and would appreciate any letters.

FE9379 - Anthony Cripps
Exeter Prison
New North Road
Exeter
EX4 4EX

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Heres a report from local Exeter rag :

ACCUSED DENIES PART IN KIDNAP ORDEAL
BY ECHO REPORTER

A father accused of robbing and kidnapping told a jury he had nothing to do with the alleged attack.

Anthony Cripps said he did not know why the "victim" had told police he had been responsible.

Cripps, 41, of Yonder Street, Ottery St Mary and Mark Haggerty, 22, of Cary Park, Torquay, both deny robbing Stephen Thomas of his wallet and mobile phone, kidnapping him and assaulting him causing actual bodily harm on January 20, last year.

When Cripps was quizzed over why he had lied to police, claiming he had never been to Thomas' home in Ottery - when he had in fact been there up to 12 times - he said: "I don't know why I lied. I have no good reason."

At Exeter Crown Court yesterday, Cripps denied involvement, but said he had been to Mr Thomas' house on the day before the alleged attack.

Prosecutor Terry Holder alleged that the two men had knocked on Mr Thomas' door at 7am, demanded money, followed him upstairs. Mr Holder said Thomas was threatened and hit on the nose with a stick.

A doctor who examined Mr Thomas found an injury to his throat that supported his claims that a stick had been pushed down into his mouth.

Mr Holder asked Cripps: "Are you saying that he did it to himself?"

"I don't know," Cripps replied.

"Is there any reason why Mr Thomas would pick on you. Have you fallen out with him?"

Cripps replied: "There is no reason I can think of."

Mr Holder suggested Cripps and Haggerty then led Mr Thomas out of his house and into nearby fields where they made him eat their cigarette ends to get rid of DNA evidence and tied his thumbs together with ties used to support young trees.

"You subjected him to a terrifying ordeal over a number of hours, culminating in him managing to escape," said the prosecutor. "No, sir," replied Cripps.

In his first police interview, Cripps said he knew Mr Thomas but had not been to his house. At a second interview in June, he was told his DNA had been found on a soup mug. Cripps then said he had been to the house between eight and 12 times, the last occasion being the day before the alleged attack.

Mr Holder said: "You had no reason to lie. This was your chance to give your side of the story."

Cripps replied: "It was all a bit heavy at the time. I really didn't want to be associated with him (Mr Thomas)."

(The trial continues)

http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=101955&command=displayContent&sourceNode=99871&contentPK=1587745

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FREE VIDEO TONY!