Race charges dropped over golliwog in window

Racial harassment charges against a woman who displayed a golliwog toy in her window have been dropped.

Jena Mason, 65, of College Lane, Worlingham, Suffolk, was arrested after her black neighbour Rosemarie O’Donnell complained about the doll to police.

Yesterday at Lowestoft Magistrates Court, the head of the complex casework unit at the East of England Crown Prosecution Service, Chris McCann, appeared before the bench and offered no evidence.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In a hearing lasting less than five minutes, he said the decision was made after a “review has been carried out at the highest level”.

Mrs Mason, who did not attend yesterday’s court hearing, had been due to stand trial after denying that she displayed an item likely to cause racially aggravated harassment.

Mr McCann said the O’Donnells had been informed of the decision.

He said: “To establish that an offence has been committed, it would have been necessary to prove that Jena Mason was the person who placed the doll in such a prominent position likely to cause her neighbours racially-aggravated harassment, alarm or distress.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“On the evidence available, it is not possible to show exactly who was responsible for placing the doll in the window.

“Despite further inquiry and review, we have determined that the evidence is insufficient and there is not a realistic prospect of conviction.

“We appreciate that this case has caused the O’Donnell family a great deal of upset and we have met with them to explain our reasons for not pursuing a prosecution,” he said.

The row erupted after Mrs O’Donnell complained about the doll on display at Mrs Mason’s manor home in the village.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mrs O’Donnell had claimed that the golliwog caused offence to her family.

Outside court, solicitor James Hartley said: “I have spoken to Mrs Mason and she now wants to focus on rebuilding her relationship with her neighbours.”

There was no answer at either the Mason or O’Donnell homes in Worlingham yesterday.

Mrs Mason had been unconditional bail after being accused of the offence.

It had previously been reported that the soft toy had been used by a child at the house.

Related topics: