Norman Scarth (born 1925): Survived bloody battle in World War II fighting for Democracy, Freedom, Justice & the Rule of Law:  Worked honestly & hard from then on.  Very late in life became an observer, researcher, student & successful single-handed reformer of law(^{FootNote [1]} ):  Hon. Sec. of the Litigants In Person Society;  Founder Member of the ARTICLE 6 Group( [2] ): 

(Home address:  C/o Jack Scarth, 59, Gledhow Park Avenue, LEEDS LS7 4JL.  Tel: 0113 262 0449)

Now Political Prisoner, Hepworth Ward, Newton Lodge Gulag, Regional Secure Unit, Ouchthorpe Lane, WAKEFIELD WF1 3SP  ENGLAND

Tel: (for patient) 01924 327 396.                                to book a visit (24 hours notice) 01924 327 357.

1)       At my grotesque ‘trial’ His ‘Honour’ Judge David Ronald Bentley banned the press (that alone should set alarm bells ringing), cancelled the legal aid already granted, refused me a McKenzie Friend (lay adviser) & refused to allow me to produce evidence or call witnesses.  He & barrister Timothy Capstick then fed gross distortions of the truth ([3]) to the (specially selected?) jury, & having got the conviction that Judge Bentley wanted, he described me as ‘obsessed’ & ‘dangerous’.

2)       Obsessed?  Yes, I admit it, but there are worthy & unworthy ‘obsessions’.  60 years ago I shared the obsession of Winston Churchill (& most of the British people) that we should fight against the evil of Hitler.

3)       William Wilberforce, Mahatma Gandhi, The Suffragettes, Nelson Mandela, Steve Biko, Ken Sara Wiwa, Martin Luther King, Alecksandr Solzhenitsyn et al were ‘obsessed’.  Were they ‘dangerous’?  If so, to whom?

4)       Having ‘done my bit’ in helping to defeat Hitler, from the end of WW2 I returned to an earlier ‘obsession’ – horses – less worthy perhaps, but it was my work, my hobby & my life. Aspects of that life (included in this document) indicate whether I am ‘violent’, ‘dangerous’ - or suffering from ‘mental illness’.  Read on.

5)       Increasingly, from about 25 years ago I developed a new ‘obsession’ (if you wish to call it that), & about 7 years ago another.  They were the main points of my Manifesto when I stood as an ‘Independent Old Age Pensioner’ at the 1997 General Election.  See para. 50 for that Manifesto.  It is tragic that the British people do not share my ‘obsessions’.

6)       Instead, the bulk of the people are obsessed by TV soaps – ‘East Enders’, The Lottery, The Foreign Holiday, ‘Sport’ & the desperately exciting doings of ‘Celebrities’, as fed to them by the media.  They are unworthy obsessions.
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7)       There was great obstruction & delay to my appeal against conviction, against sentence, & my application for bail pending appeal.  Substantial grounds for all these had been submitted in writing by me.  Eventually, my appeal against sentence was listed to be heard on 31^st July 2002.  In the meantime there had been very strange conduct by the Court of Appeal.  They granted Legal Aid for the appeal – which I had never asked for (many have great difficulty getting legal aid). 

8)       By this time Mark Barlow had become my barrister (the strange story of how that came about is told elsewhere).  Our first contact had been a brief exchange of letters some eight months before, following which there was no contact whatsoever.  We had never met, he knew nothing about me, about the case or relevant law. 

9)       He DID know that my life expectation (already short) was diminishing even faster in a succession of ‘Hell Hole’ prisons([4]).  Nevertheless, without any reference to me, & he took it upon himself to take my appeal out of the list.  The Court of Appeal told me of this.  I wrote back immediately asking that it be re-listed, & stating that I no longer wished to be represented by Mark Barlow.  Eventually my application for bail pending appeal was heard on 18^th October 2002.  It happened without me being told a word about it  – but Barlow was present!!

10)    I learned afterwards that the application was before Mr. Justice Rougier, who adjourned the hearing, saying that he feared I was ‘obsessed’, & was anxious to have a psychiatrist’s report on that.  During the Profumo ‘Call Girl’ scandal, Mandy Rice-Davies famously coined the phrase, “He would say that wouldn’t he?”  It could be said of Rougier, considering that HE was one of the judges I named & denounced in my 1997 General Election Manifesto, & my book, ‘Cause for Concern’.  Wouldn’t he just love to have me declared as “suffering from paranoid delusions!   Article 6 of the 1998 Human Rights Act requires that any hearing should be ‘before an independent & impartial tribunal’.  Judge Rougier could hardly be impartial.

11)    Neither he nor anyone else should NEED a psychiatrist’s Report!  Forced to take action in the High Court against a man who had seriously defamed me, there was lodged in the High Court a bundle of documents which included testimonials from Cabinet Ministers, members of the Royal Family & other eminent & worthy people, about 40 in all, plus part of my Manifesto when I stood for Parliament at the 1997 General Election as an ‘Independent Old Age Pensioner’.  It records virtually my whole life (& character) from the age of 17.  I immodestly submit that it is a record of which any could be proud.  I have given much to this nation - & have much more to give – if I am allowed to give it! 
 

12)    The testimonials relate to my general character, & also to my skill as a ‘Horse Whisperer’ (as popularly known).  The latter are particularly relevant, in that they show that I am able to reform difficult & dangerous horses with kindness & humanity.  Could such a man be either a vicious criminal or a homicidal maniac, as those with a vested interest have labelled me? 

13)    The court bundle of documents can be examined, but for convenience I quote extracts.  Read them & decide if I deserve to die in prison, or need to be ‘assessed’ in a Gulag ‘hospital’, then forcibly pumped full of drugs before release.  OR – are the motives of those who put me here suspect??
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14)    Chronologically, Document NS46 is the first, from when I was 18:, a copy of The Yorkshire Evening Post, January 1^st 1944:  ‘Leeds Sailors helped to sink the Scharnhorst’ shows a photo of me, & gives my name as one of them.  That is history to all but a few now, but the horrors of the infamous Arctic Russian Convoys, & of that battle were real life to me.  I was proud to have played my part, but deeply regret the deaths of many of my brave young shipmates, & many more equally brave German sailors.

15)    Next, NS37, are several letters & certificates from the General Secretary & Chief Executive of  the National Light Horse Breeding Society (Patron HM the Queen, President HM he Queen Mother). 
The first is a letter dated 13^th February 1961 “I think … you have won the Henry Tudor Challenge Cup with Irish Dance … you must be there to accept the cup from our Royal President”.  I was closely involved with that society for 44 years. 
A letter dated 15^th April 1991, “Please be assured that this Society, & myself in particular greatly appreciate all that you have done for us over a very considerable number of years.  No one can ever say whatever criticism you have put forward has not been constructive, & on numerous occasions suggestions that you have made have been used to improve existing formulae.  Long may you continue to be an active & enthusiastic supporter”.
18^th January 1996: “I have known Norman Scarth for nearly 40 years during which time he has been associated with this Society’s Premium Stallion Scheme …”.  “In all my dealings with Mr. Scarth I have found him to be honest, trustworthy & a man of the highest moral integrity”.  There follow copies of seven certificates presented to me by HM the Queen Mother, Princess Anne & other eminent people.  The Report of the AGM, 5^th May 1982 refers to my record breaking success in the Henry Tudor Cup Competition.  A magazine known as the ‘Horseman’s Bible’ published a letter from a Council Member of the Society, “Norman Scarth is one of the most respected stallion owners, & his opinion is of the utmost importance”.  This is notable in that he was responding to a letter of mine which had been critical of him.

16)      Back to NS2, an advert of mine in which I say, “Any horse can be loaded, single handed, happily & cheerfully, in 90 seconds – when he has been taught!!  Who will teach him?  I will.  How long will it take?  Often as little as half an hour, 4 or 5 days at most AND ALL DONE WITHOUT WHIPS OR BEATINGS”.  These of course are my own words, but the testimonials which follow confirm that they are fully justified.

17)    NS3, 7/11/81, from Mr. & Mrs D. Whitehead, Bradford;  A few extracts from the long letter of thanks are, “… lots of fun & made many friends all over the country – all of which was due to the good work you did with Poppy”.  “… the middle of October we set off again for Petersfield, a journey of about 280 miles”.  “Our thanks again for your help, it was certainly the best monies worth we’ve had …”.  Douglas won’t forget when he receives his trophy … that if it wasn’t for your help, he would not have won it again this year”.  “You can be sure we always recommend you when we hear of people having problems boxing their horses”.

18)    NS4, 23/10/87, from Glynis Coates, Pudsey; “Just a note to thank you for sorting out our problem.  Blue seems to be fine now & may I add a lot better mannered.  When he plays up I just mention your name.  Hope to see you in the future under a less traumatic situation”.  Thanks again”.

19)    NS5, 7/3/98, from Mrs. G. Dunn, Todmorden; “… a friend introduced (Norman Scarth) as a man who could help me with a home bred filly who steadfastly refused to load into a trailer.  Although I have extensive experience over 50 years, have bred Welsh ponies & cobs for 25 years, & currently serve on the Ponies of Britain (UK) official panel of judges, this filly had me completely beaten for three years.  “… his only ‘aid’ was a halter with an exceptionally long shank; he did not carry a whip.  … The filly was asked to load & responded with her usual stubbornness.  Within an hour she loaded at his request, & unloaded, several times, finally standing quite quietly in the trailer.  She acquiesced rather than submitted to his experience use of psychology.  Under Mr. Scarth’s guidance I to have achieved this success.  He paid two more visits to satisfy himself that both the mare & I understood what was required of her.  I subsequently travelled her, single-handedly, to 2-3 shows … finally, some months later to Britain’s premier Welsh Cob Sale.  In the darkness of that early October morning she loaded as sweetly as anyone could wish, & I was gratified that she caught the eye of a buyer from Germany.  … I … have not forgotten what I learned from the experience”.

20)    NS6, May 1994, from Mr. & Mrs. O’Neill, Keighley; “In Sept. 1992 we had a 16.2 hh middleweight mare “Missy” who was causing us problems when trying to load her.  After trying for six months to box her & getting nowhere a friend suggested we get in touch with Mr. Scarth.  This we did.  He first did his preliminary training, & then took her to the horse box ramp.  …  She resisted rather violently a couple of times, & then leaped up the ramp.  From then onwards she would load single handed without any trouble whatsoever.  The whole process that day took an hour at most (including chatting time).  If she ever does try it on now we simply remind her of Mr. Scarth’s training & she literally races you up the ramp.  You have to see it to believe it.  The charge was £100 but has been well worth it for the pleasure we have had since.  I would recommend Mr. Scarth to anyone having trouble.  Finally we would say that this was accomplished without whips or beatings, or brutality, & though the mare herself brought a certain ‘liveliness’ to the proceedings (after all we had been having problems) at the end of it all she was in no way distressed, was quite relaxed, & regarded Mr. Scarth as a friend.  Signed, Gratefully, David & Margaret O’Neill”.

21)    NS7, 5/8/97, from Diane Bayles, Riddlsden: “Please find enc. cheque for your fee.  I am very happy with the result, & will have no qualms about recommending you to my friends.  So confident am I that he will now load with relative ease, we have entered a long distance ride in & around Whitby … .  Thank you once again, to be sure, you are the miracle man”.

22)    NS8, 4/3/98, from Barbara Cox, Keighley; (extracts from a long letter), “Henry proved impossible to box, he reared & kicked, & pulled away & was generally out of control.  He was a danger to himself & others.  … Mr. Scarth explained his methods to us, & assured us that Henry would box satisfactorily.  …At first Henry was confused & wary, but did after a short while respond to Mr. Scarth’s commands.  At no time was Henry hurt or abused as we would not have allowed this under any circumstances … .  After Mr. Scarth had successfully boxed Henry several times, he taught us & our daughter to do it also.  …  We did experience some problem the following week at a show, but Mr. Scarth came when we called him & repeated the teaching to us. … we have been very pleased with the result of Mr. Scarth’s teaching, which has significantly improved our confidence with Henry. … considering how impossible Henry was to box & the dangerousness of his behaviour, & the improvement we have maintained we can say (the fee) was not excessive, considering the skill involved.  Mr. Scarth fulfilled his promise to enable us to box our horse with the minimum of fuss & bother, & with increased confidence & skill”.

23)    NS9, 1/7/94, from Peter Craven MBE, Leeds; “I thought you might be interested to hear of my success after hearing your lecture on ‘Loading a horse in 90 seconds …’.  The day after attending one of your lectures I successfully loaded four times in less than ten minutes a 16.2 heavyweight four-year-old which I had been trying to train to load for 18 months.  …  The next day we tried again & he walked in as thought he had been travelling all his life … .  Your method certainly worked for me & my horse & I wanted to express my thanks for passing it on to me”.

24)    NS10, c1994, from Mrs. V. Curtis, Scarborough; “My daughter & I have had horses for some years now, but one of them, a two year old thoroughbred filly became very difficult when we tried to load her.  I became quite frightened.  She was also becoming difficult to handle generally.  …  Mr. Scarth … gave her a preliminary schooling session, at which stage I became quite concerned for his safety, but he carried on unperturbed.  After a time he took her to the trailer … & proceeded to load her with no problems at all.  (He) unloaded & loaded her several times, with the filly gaining confidence at every stage … .  My daughter & myself both loaded her with no difficulty, which I didn’t believe was possible.  …  Since then her general behaviour has improved tremendously & though still boisterous my 16 year old daughter has no problem handling her”.

25)      NS11, 8/10/94, from Mrs. Frances Ginn, Scarborough;  “In 1993 we had an Appaloosa gelding.  A strong cob type 14.2hh.   He was perfect for our requirements, except that he was very difficult to load into out trailer.  He escaped from my daughter several times, & we became very frustrated & worried.  We did solicit the aid of a very strong young man  who was used to horses.  He managed to escape from him also, after dragging him on the ground & bruising him rather badly.  Mr. Scarth took the horse in hand for us.  The end result is that we now have a horse that can be loaded single handed by my lightweight teenage daughter without any problems whatsoever.  We came in daily contact with Mr. Scarth for 18 months, & never found him to be other than courteous, friendly & helpful”.

26)    NS12, 7/3/98, from Mr. & Mrs. M.J.Harper, Halifax; “We have used Norman on two occasions to train problem horses to load, & have been delighted with the results.  …  If we had not known Norman our showing career would have been over long ago. …  The £150 we spent on the Section D (cob) was well worth it.  Even at double it would have been a bargain.  Our door is always open to Norman & hope he carries on helping other horse owners for many a year to come”.

27)    NS13, c1998, from Miss P.Lupton, Bradford; “… to say thank you for your time & experience on Tuesday night.  I am extremely grateful as it was a bit of a nightmare watching her struggle to the point of injury.  Keep in touch”.

28)    NS14, 10/3/98, from Miss D.S.Mayo-Bagnell, Clamp Hill, Middlesex; “Prior to your teaching it had taken some 3 ½ hours to load my horse at a competition venue at Milton Keynes Equestrian Centre … .  Your methods were unknown to me, & I did not know what to expect.  My horse & I were certainly educated by you.  The result of training was immediate.  I have no trouble loading her at any venue now.  One could not criticise your fee, £200.  Many thanks for making my life that more enjoyable for myself & my helper & trainer etc. … I do not know what I would have done without you …”.

29)    NS15, 5/3/98, from Nicholas J. Medhurst, Bath; “My wife & I owned two horses which were dangerous to load due to rushing back & rearing.  Within a matter of hours Norman had trained both animals to board a lorry quietly.  The following day he had them walking on, & standing in position in the lorry without being led!  His techniques are not cruel or harmful to the animal although he does put himself personally a little at risk   We are delighted with both the result & also the invaluable knowledge that Norman shared with us”.

30)    NS16, 4/3/98, from Miss A.Oliver, Bradford; “I had a (big) mare … (who would) rear up at me … she was endangering me.  She wasn’t very trusting especially with men, so I needed someone who was kind & patient & wouldn’t smack her.  … We were told at no time would she be smacked or prodded.  …  He spent nearly a whole afternoon with us … putting my mare back into the stable to rest, drink & think about what she had learned.  At no time did she become sweaty & worked up.  He gained her confidence 100%, without cruelty or bribery, & took herself in & out of the box & trailer by the end of the day.  I learned how to handle her whilst loading & not to be nervous with her.  …  I was totally amazed by what he could do.  I really thought no-one could ever box my mare … .  The good behaviour started to lapse after a few shows … I called Norman & he came back straight away (&) saw what the problem was.  This second visit was free of charge.  It’s now been two years since he came … we don’t give boxing a second thought.  …  I’ve recommended him to many people”.

31)    NS17, 3/5/94, from Ouse & Derwent Training Group, York; “On Monday 31^st January 1994 we invited Mr. Scarth to speak.  …  In spite of dreadful weather & poor road conditions, 68 people attended this meeting, coming from as far afield as the North East coast & the borders of North Yorkshire/Lancashire.  Our normal attendance … is approximately 30 people.  …  People found the meeting to be extremely interesting & entertaining … .  They found his advice most useful …”.

32)    NS18, 19/1094, from Spraymain Ltd, Filey; “In 1993 I booked several mares to go to stud to Mr. Scarth’s stallions, one of which had always been very difficult to load, & when sent to stud previously had been sent home without being covered, as being ‘too dangerous’.  … we took up Mr. Scarth’s offer to come himself to collect her.  …  in less than an hour he was able to load this mare, single-handed, in wide open spaces, without the use of any gates, fences, ropes or other devices, & with no fuss or bother, without the use of any whip or stick.  … the mare has remained easy to load by any competent horse person from that day on.  Norman Scarth has also given the writer & his staff much valuable advice & tuition in the general handling & catching of difficult horse, & we would recommend his services to any concerned horse owner”.

33)    NS19, 20/9/94, from Caroline Bower, South Devon; “I am writing to express my thanks for your invaluable help in the loading problem I had with my 6 year old thoroughbred mare.  … on most occasions it took 4 of us about 2 hours to ‘winch’ her in.  This … was dangerous, exhausting & entirely unsatisfactory.  …  I turned to you in desperation … .  After following your detailed written instructions we were successful in loading her with ease … .  As a vet who spent 6 years in equine practice, & also having 30 years experience with horses, I was astounded & humbled to find a technique which was so fundamentally different from anything I had used or heard of before.  Thank you for your help … including the follow-up phone calls, & interest displayed in our progress”.

34)    NS21 & NS22 are sequences of photos which have astonished many horse people.

35)    NS30, 27/1/82? from Peacock Farm, Ripon; “Do you remember us bringing … Black Bess (to stud, because) she was very lame & you sent her back sound!”.

36)     NS31, 29/1/96, from C. Boothman, Kirkcudbright; “I have known (Norman Scarth) since 1950, & as an ex Racehorse Trainer & Stalllion owner have had quite a few business dealings with him.  I have always found him to be honest, straight forward  & a person who would rather do someone a favour than a dirty trick.  I can most certainly vouch for his integrity & would say that double dealing is extremely alien to his nature.  I have no hesitation in vouching for his complete honesty”.

37)    NS32, 5/2/96, from D. A. D. Brydon MRCVS, Scarborough; “I have known Norman Scarth for nearly 40 years.  First when I was a practising veterinary surgeon, he was a valued client I regarded him as a very competent stallion owner, who managed his stud with the greatest efficiency.  …  In addition … I know him to be a man of the highest integrity”.

38)    NS33, 27/1/96, from Mrs. D.Cope, Harrogate; “I have known Norman Scarth & his late wife in excess of 25 years. I have had many dealings with him, both financial & otherwise, & at all times have found him a very genuine, sound, & generous business man.  At times when I have had an emergency, a telephone call was sufficient to rally his help.  Norman Scarth is a man I would trust with any of my animals, as no doubt his ‘mates’ trusted him during his service years”.

39)    NS34, 19/11/80, from Mariane Freeman, Halifsx; “Very many thanks for all your invaluable help & assistance”.

40)    NS36, 28/1/96, from Members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons J.M.Green, L.J.Greaves, G.W.Thomson & D.S.Green, Keighley; “Members of this practice have known & traded with Mr. Scarth now for about 34 years, during which we have formed the highest opinion of him in all aspects of our relationship.  As a Stud owner & Stallion man he is second to none.  His record over the past almost fifty years stands in the annals of the Hunters Improvement Society for all to see.  …  owners sent mare from all over Britain to Ravenroyd, such was the reputation of Mr. Scarth.  He has always been willing to pass on his expertise to anyone willing to learn, & we freely admit that we have all benefited from working with him over the years.  As a client we hold him in high esteem.  … giving us a reliable history of any illness or disorder we are called to treat.  He rejoices with us in success, & is generous when our efforts are not so rewarding.  …  As a friend we are proud to number Mr. Scarth among those who we would be able to call on should we find ourselves in trouble.  His willingness to help others & integrity in all his undertakings mark him out as one who could be truly called a ‘Gentleman’, & we freely offer this testimonial to him …”.

41)    NS39, 1/2/96, from Mrs. V.Morris, Otley; “What is going on, & what can we do?  Having known you for many years, your integrity & honesty, the last things anyone could question”.

42)    NS40, 1993, from Rising Sun Farm, Filey; “Many thanks for your helpfulness & services during 1993”.

43)    NS41, 16/11/84, from Marlene, Surrey; “I would like to thank you for all your help, nothing ever seems to be too much trouble”.

44)    NS42, 19/2/96, from James Burnhill & Sons Ltd, Cleckheaton; “I have known & traded with … Norman Scarth for 20 years …  During this time I found (him) to be a hard working & honest pig farmer, who always met his obligations.  When he retired we lost a valued customer”.

45)    NS43, 13/2/96, from F.M.Lister & Son, Otley; “I have known Norman Scarth for about thirty years … & have worked in a professional capacity for him.  …  I believe him to be sound, reliable & honest & have never found him anything but open & honourable in his dealings with me, or with others”.

46)    NS44, 13/2/96, from Otley Cattle Market Auction Ltd.; “… I have known Mr. Scarth for … more than 20 years … He traded with the company both as a buyer & seller of goods, & … was a first class customer …  I have found him to be completely honourable, trustworthy, honest & reliable … at all times”.

47)    NS45, March 1971, article from Yorkshire Post; “Problem horse astonishes all”.

48)    NS75, 1/9/98, from Geoffrey Hoon MP, Minister of State, Lord Chancellor’s Dept.; “…  At present, rules of court require that certain types of hearing must be heard in chambers, & others in open court.  Where the forum is discretionary, it is a matter for the judge to decide.  My department is considering these rules in the light of the recent decision of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Scarth v United Kingdom, & in preparation for the implementation of the Human Rights Bill”.  (The change was indeed included in the 1998 Human Rights Act.  It is rare, if not unique, for a small farmer who left school at 13 to achieve so much, single handed – without a lawyer.  The change is much disliked by the legal professionals).

49)    NS75a, 8/7/99, The Times Law Report; “Lord Chancellor is urged to reconsider court fee relief”.  (This related to my seeking Judicial Review of the misconduct of Leeds Courthouse staff in the defamation case to which this bundle relates).
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50)    NS84, 22/4/97; “Norman Scarth, [Manifesto] GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATE IN CHESTERFIELD, NON-PARTY OLD AGE PENSIONER (INDEPENDENT OAP).  I am 71, fought in World war 2, on Russian Convoys & in the battle with the Scharnhorst. …  worked hard ever since, mostly as a small farmer & horseman.  Now become a low level law student & writer (of sorts).  My sole income is my old age pension of £63 per week.  I drew the last £500 from my bank for the election deposit.  SUCH FOOLISHNESS!  WHY?  I am greatly concerned about VIOLENT CRIME AGAINST THE DEFENCELESS, & the swindling & robbery that goes with it.  Particularly that against old age pensioners.  Almost unknown at one time, it is commonplace now, & increasing daily.  I AM DISMAYED that none of our politicians take interest or action.  They wring their hands, say ‘isn’t it awful’, & do nothing.  That is my major concern, & my main platform.  There IS action that could be taken to combat it, & other crime as well.  It would be effective & cheap.  New thinking is needed.  New thinking is also needed elsewhere.  ROAD SAFETY:  Driving standards (mine included!) could be improved dramatically with the stroke of a pen, at no cost.  LAWYERS & JUDGES:  From the days of my youth I had believed them worthy of respect.  I have recently discovered that many of them are not.  I have documentary proof, & will publish a book in the very near future.  [I did.  It was called CAUSE FOR CONCERN( [5] )].  …   I can ill afford to lose that deposit.  Your odd vote might save it for me.  … You will not be pestered by my supporters, I haven’t got any.  Some of you will read this leaflet (I can’t afford many), & that’s about it.  GREAT BRITAIN IN THE NINETIES.  At Sunday school 60 odd years ago, I learned that there were two kinds of people (apart from robbers of course).  There were the Pharisees who, on seeing the robber’s victim in the gutter, would pass by on the other side of the road.  Then there were the Samaritans, good people, who would cross the road to the victim, tend his wounds & succour him.  Nowadays it’s different. …  There are still the Pharisees … & the Samaritans.  But now there is a third kind.  They too will cross the road to the victim, but they don’t go over to succour him.  No, they go over to put the boot in - - Just for the sheer pleasure of doing so!  It’s the new National Sport.  ‘PUT THE BOOT INTO THE VICTIM’.  … 76 year old pensioner Ted Newbery successfully defended himself against a burglar.  The Crown Prosecution Service decided to put the boot in – not to the burglar – but to Mr. Newbery!  They charged him with ‘Wounding with intent to cause GBH’.  Had he been found guilty he could have been sentenced to life imprisonment!  Thanks to a good jury with a sense of justice & common sense, Mr. Newbery was acquitted (he should have been awarded a medal).  But the law hadn’t finished with him yet.  Foiled by the jury, they found a judge, Mr. Justice Rougier, willing to put the boot in.  He did so, by ordering the victim to pay £4,000 to the burglar!  And the new National Motto ‘DON’T HAVE A GO’..  What a nation of wimps we are!  Neville Chamberlain acquired the reputation of being a weak Prime Minister, & an appeaser – a wimp in today’s terms.  Even so, when Hitler attacked Poland he didn’t say ‘don’t have a go.  He DID have go, & so did the rest of us!  The reward?  To read in the papers, day after day after day, headlines like those which follow (in the Manifesto I give a long list, a selection here):  “Third attack in a year on 87 yr old disabled pensioner”.  “Two 80 yr old woman pensioners attacked & mugged in same area within 2 days.  One needs hip operation”.  “90 yr old couple, one blind, one deaf, robbed twice in 4 weeks in their own home”.  “Woman of 98, almost blind, partly deaf, attacked by intruder”.  “92 yr old woman killed in her own home”.  “83 yr old man robbed & savagely beaten in own home”.  “86 yr old blind pensioner hurled to the ground, bag, purse & white stick stolen”.  “Petty burglar murdered widow of 98”.  “18 yr old attacks & robs 2 sisters, 84 & 88 yrs old, kills one.  Earlier on the same day he had been arrested in another pensioner’s home.  Claimed he was 13, bailed ‘into care’.  Went off & violently robbed elderly man, then went on to commit the murder.  Since the age of 12 he had ‘with gratuitous violence’ attacked & robbed ‘at least ‘60 victims”.  “83 yr old man, feeding the pigeons, robbed & killed.  Killer gets 3 yrs probation”. 

“19 yr old with history of burglary, joy riding, arson, criminal damage & assault had cost Wandsworth Social Services £500,000 over 8 yrs.  Killed father of 3 by stabbing.  Walks free from court.  ‘Not Guilty’ (of anything).  “Pensioner beaten to death”.  “5 youths charged with murder of disabled OAP”.  “Teenager arrested for murder of one legged almost blind pensioner, who had cancer & diabetes.  Had previously suffered a series of burglaries”.  “83 yr old woman dies after attack & robbery at home”.  “Couple in their 70s & paralysed son found battered to death in their own home”.  “98 yr old woman killed by 2 woman burglars”.  And so it goes on, week in week out.  … People under 40 accept it as an unfortunate part of life.  Those of us who are older when these sort of crimes were virtually unheard of.  …             THERE IS EFFECTIVE ACTION THAT COULD BE TAKEN, IF POLITICIANS HAD THE WILL.      Why have I taken on the stupid & impossible task of standing for Parliament?  I am anxious to ‘Do My Bit’ (a wartime phrase) … to try & arrest the frighteningly speedy decline of this once honourable nation.  The present day wimps, coward, brainwashed sheep & whiners are no match for the villains, thugs & scoundrels who, along with the shysters, con men, self-seekers, word twisters & manipulators of thought, have taken over the country.  There are men & women of integrity & courage.  Are there enough to reverse the trend?  Let us hope so. 
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51)    (The reasons why I chose to stand against eminent politician Tony Benn in his safe seat, Chesterfield, were in the full Manifesto, but not in the court bundle.  I give them now).  Never having set foot in the town in my life before, on the morning nominations closed I travelled there by coach & knocked on doors till I found ten local voters to nominate me, then to the Council Office to put down my £500 deposit – knowing I would lose it.  Why?

52)    In 1984 2 striking miners dropped a concrete block from a bridge, killing a taxi driver.  They were caught & convicted of murder.  Tony Benn said loudly (on TV, radio & in Parliament [see Hansard]), “These men are not criminals, they should not be in prison”.  Very quickly there was an appeal, the conviction reduced to manslaughter, & they were soon out of prison.  Since then, dropping concrete blocks from bridges has become a National Sport!  Though I was not able to challenge Benn for 13 years, I stood against him because I believe that such crime IS murder - be it by 2 striking miners, 2 housewives or 2 Archbishops! 

53)    Before he knew my reasons for standing against him, Benn & I shared a platform at a meeting.  He described me as a ‘War Hero’ (knowing I was no real threat to him he could afford to be generous).  He knows I have killed no-one.  He has seen a transcript of tape recordings of the seriously criminal attack on me by a mob-handed police gang on 8^th August 1999 – 11 months BEFORE the ‘crime’ I am supposed to have committed.  Why does he not say of me, “This man is not a criminal, he should not be in prison”?  This Gulag ‘hospital’ is a very sinister prison    

54)    To get to the bottom of this, try asking West Yorkshire Police - & the British Government - about the ‘incident’ of 8^th August, & what information was held about me (a completely law abiding old age pensioner) on the police computer at that time. Complainants at the time, which included a City Councillor & The Royal Naval (Veterans) Association were told to go away & mind their own business.  To their eternal discredit, they meekly did so.  Enquirers now will undoubtedly be told the same – but that should speak more than a million words.

55)    They should also ask about High Court Case LS 190 197, (Leeds District Registry), N.Scarth v G.Moore, my claim against the Chief Constable of West Yorkshire for £1,000,000 damages, which can bring the horrific truth to light.  It is still supposedly going ahead – but (in the hope that my death will intervene) is being subjected to shocking delay.

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56)    To go back to crime against the vulnerable & the old.  It is tragic that the dodgy decision of a football referee can cause riot, and/or debate for decades, yet the brutal murder of an old person is forgotten within days.  Little did I think as I stood for Parliament, that 2 years later I would myself be a victim of brutal crime by the State itself – yet the British people turn a blind eye, fearful that they could be next. 

57)    As Pastor Martin Neimuller said of the Nazis in Germany, “They came for the Trade Unionists, but I was not a Trade Unionist, so I did nothing.  They came for the Communists, but I was not a Communists, so did nothing.  They came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew, so did nothing.  They came for the Catholics, but I was a Protestant, so did nothing.  Then they came for me.  By that time there was nobody left to do anything for anybody”.

58)    Yes, at my ‘trial’ I was convicted of a crime (like Timothy John Evans, Mahmood Marchant, Stefan Kisko, Steven Downing , Robert Brown, the Birmingham 6, the Guildford 4, & other innocent victims), but now 77 years of age, approaching 2 years in prison (the equivalent of a 4 year sentence), have I now ‘paid my debt to Society’?  The contra-question is: How has the British Nation repaid the debt it undoubtedly owes to me?  It has done so with brutality & savagery beyond belief. 

59)     LEST WE FORGET!  Do I have to demean myself to remind you that every decent person in the land owes a debt to those who fought against Hitler (as I did)?  Some owe their lives; any of the Jewish faith particularly would have died in a gas chamber but for those like me.  The poppies you wear on Armistice Day purport to acknowledge that debt.  Hitler’s bombers, U-boats & the Scharnhorst tried to destroy me.  Are you going to allow Judge Bentley to succeed where they failed?  This is certainly no place for an old man who has given much to (& taken little from) this nation.

THE FACTS IN THIS WITNESS STATEMENT ARE TRUE (E & OE)
                                                                                                                                   Norman Scarth (aka Winston Smith)

 6,985 words, inc. footnotes                                                                                                30^th December 2002 (‘1984’ + 18!)

SUPPLEMENT, Thursday 2^nd January 2003:

Never having had contact with prisons, prison officers or the criminal fraternity during my long life, I believed (as we are constantly told by the media) that prisons were ‘Holiday Camps’.  Sent to one such place for the first time at the age of 75, I was to find out that they are anything but.  The biggest shock was to find that most of the prisoners are much better human beings than those with the keys.

The ‘Hell Hole’ I was in before coming here was Stocken Prison, near Rutland, & today I received letters from fellow prisoners there.  They are very flattering, & I am proud to quote from them (though I withhold the names of the writers at present):