Foxtons protest demands Upper Street estate agent apologises for brawl that left woman, 65, with head injury
Jane Nicholl and protesters outside Foxtons in Upper Street. Picture: Polly Hancock - Credit: Archant
An anarchist has turned her fire from Boris Johnson to Foxtons.
Jane Nicholl sustained severe bruising after being pushed over outside Boris Johnson's Islington house in July. Picture: Jane Nicholl - Credit: Archant
Warning: strong language
At a protest outside Mr Johnson’s central Islington house in July, Jane Nicholl received severe bruising after being pushed over – she says by a Foxtons worker. There is a branch in nearby Upper Street.
Worker Patrik Aghabeh, 28, of Drayton Park, was charged with assault but the case was dropped due to a lack of evidence.
In August, he was one of three Foxtons staff members to be sacked after fighting, caught on video, erupted between them and anarchists from Class War. The identities of the other two staff were not released.
Ms Nicholl, 65, led an all-women protest outside Foxtons on Saturday. She is demanding an apology for their involvement, even though no one from Foxtons was convicted of attacking her.
Recalling July’s incident, she said: “We were protesting peacefully [against Mr Johnson’s appointment as foreign secretary] for about an hour. It was winding down and from a distance, this group of men came walking down the middle of the road.
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“It was like a scene out of Reservoir Dogs, only they were p***** up and shouting: ‘We love Boris.’ One of them was making jokes about us being poor, waving notes around.
Jane Nicholl and protesters outside Foxtons in Upper Street. Picture: Polly Hancock - Credit: Archant
“Three of them went on and one of them pushed me backwards. The police did nothing. It’s disgusting that the CPS dropped this as there is clear evidence. I didn’t put five stitches in the back of my head myself.”
She added: “I had a stroke two years ago. I have to avoid getting injured. I’m 65 and don’t go looking for fights. My head still hurts, it’s affected my balance and frankly it’s made me nervous being in crowds.
“I have contacted Foxtons twice and not been acknowledged. To be fair, they were very quick to sack them but haven’t spoken out. It’s as if it has been dismissed as a minor scrap.”
The Gazette was unable to reach Foxtons, though at the time the three staff were sacked, it said: “This isolated incident was treated with the utmost severity.”
In a letter to Ms Nicholl, the CPS said: “At trial the Crown would have to prove Mr Aghabeh assaulted you and based on current evidence, we would not be able to do this.
“We have viewed the CCTV and note that it does not show the person who assaulted you, although it is clear you were assaulted by an unknown person.”
