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‘I just had to do something’ says have-a-go hero

7:00am Thursday 6th November 2008 in


A HAVE-a-go-hero who broke up a teenage Halloween brawl feared someone could have been killed if he stood by and did nothing.

Aran Pope, aged 35, stepped into the firing line after spotting a gang of eight youths surround three teenage Goths.

“One of these Goths, who must have only been about 16, was repeatedly punched and kicked on the floor.

“To see someone being attacked like that, maybe just because they looked and dressed differently, was nasty.

“As it was happening, the young Goth woman who was killed recently popped into my head. I just knew I had to do something.”

Mr Pope, an IT worker from Westbourne, jumped out of his car and waded into the mob that had gathered on Durnford Road, Parkstone, Poole, around 2pm on Friday.

He said: “Most of them, especially the older ones, ran off, but I managed to grab hold of one of them.

“Then an off-duty policeman who was driving past to go to the shops stopped to help.”

Earlier this year Sophie Lancaster, aged 20, was kicked to death by two 16-year-olds as she tried to protect her boyfriend, who went on to survive the attack in a Lancashire park.

Her boyfriend was beaten unconscious by five teenagers simply because he was a Goth.

Followers of the Goth subculture, which began in Britain during the early 1980s in the gothic rock scene, stand out because of their black clothes and make-up.

No one was seriously injured in the Poole incident, but since Mr Pope made his stand two people have been arrested and released on police bail until next month.

Detective Constable Neil Wright said: “The member of the public was very brave and Dorset Police thanks him for showing public-spiritedness.

“However, we wouldn’t advise anyone to put themselves at risk unless they were certain of the outcome.”

Any witnesses should contact DC Wright on 01202 222222, or alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Comments(19)

amused says...
7:32am Thu 6 Nov 08

well done that man I know it's risky bit we have to stand up to these people the more we stand back the worse it gets.

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KMB65 says...
9:12am Thu 6 Nov 08

Agreed amused, well done that man.

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silky says...
9:26am Thu 6 Nov 08

Yes we was very brave. My partner and I did something similar many years ago. It's awful to watch something so brutal. Of course, then knife carrying wasn't so prevalent and I think now people might think twice before intervening.

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2Much...again! says...
9:35am Thu 6 Nov 08

The more the public intervene the more this sort of thing won't happen.
There's so much of this feral behaviour now, and that's partly because of our nanny state, the kids get away with murder..literally.
If people see that the public aren't going to take any more, then they will think twice before doing such terrible things.
Well done Aran!

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sylvia lancaster says...
10:47am Thu 6 Nov 08

I have read the article regarding the attack on the goth teenagers and I would just like to say to Mr Poole well done. Since the death of my daughter Sophie I along with friends have set up The Sophie Lancaster Foundation we receive on an alomost daily basis instances of violence against young people from alternative subcultures and we as a foundation are trying to raise awareness of the intolerance they face. Mr Poole is obviously very brave and if more people stood up to bullies in the way that he did they may think twice in future.

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Grumpy Griff says...
12:06pm Thu 6 Nov 08

Well done Mr Pope!

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djd says...
12:39pm Thu 6 Nov 08

Well done sir, you're a credit to the people of this country. All we need now is for the police and judicial system to support these people as well and we will see a lot more people prepared to have a go.

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Stephano Dimontero says...
1:02pm Thu 6 Nov 08

Hello,

I am with Mr djd. What will happen to these youths?

I think that they will be let off with nothing!

This cannot be right??

they should be made to dress like a "Goth" a paraded around the center of Bournemouth. There we should be able to jeer them and see how they like it?

I may not be a "Goth", but I respect their human right to dress in any way they see fit and to do so without fear of persecution.

Our Fathers fought for this basic right. Let us not forget the sacrafice they made. these ner-do-wells should do well to remember this!

I shall leave you with a quote from one of my favourite authors;

"A multitude of causes unknown to former times are now acting with a combined force to blunt the discriminating powers of the mind, and unfitting it for all voluntary exertion to reduce it to a state of almost savage torpor. "

Steph.



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Jamaal says...
1:30pm Thu 6 Nov 08

yeah, big up ya bruv, me and me blud's, we be with you, init!

Good on ya, you get me?

Don't let them get yas down, yeah? They ain't gonan merc us, you know what i'm sayin yeah?

respect!

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gerbil112 says...
2:09pm Thu 6 Nov 08

Jamaal wrote:
yeah, big up ya bruv, me and me blud's, we be with you, init! Good on ya, you get me? Don't let them get yas down, yeah? They ain't gonan merc us, you know what i'm sayin yeah? respect!
"you know what i'm sayin yeah?"

Erm... No, actually! English please???

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Jamaal says...
2:17pm Thu 6 Nov 08

gerbil112 wrote:
Jamaal wrote: yeah, big up ya bruv, me and me blud's, we be with you, init! Good on ya, you get me? Don't let them get yas down, yeah? They ain't gonan merc us, you know what i'm sayin yeah? respect!
"you know what i'm sayin yeah?" Erm... No, actually! English please???
Soz geez, me and me holmes, we be supportin' him ya know?

FIGHT THA POWA!!!!!!

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rook says...
8:04pm Thu 6 Nov 08

Nice work Mr Pope. As others have said, this type of public reaction might deter other bullies who can only be big when in a group.

However .... just suppose Mr Pope had seriously injured one of the thugs? Most of us would say great - that's just what they deserve, but I bet I know who would be the one having to defend himself against a system which seems more concerned with 'justice' for the offender than the victim.

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manana says...
9:01pm Thu 6 Nov 08

Well done, wish more people would stand up to these 'things'. And to the people arrested and on bail, I hope you are so proud of yourselves, its a testamont to the way you were brought, or dragged, up and I also hope your parents are so proud of you too. You want to fight? Then join the brave soilders who fight for this country and for you. But I doubt you ever will....

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manana says...
9:07pm Thu 6 Nov 08

sylvia lancaster wrote:
I have read the article regarding the attack on the goth teenagers and I would just like to say to Mr Poole well done. Since the death of my daughter Sophie I along with friends have set up The Sophie Lancaster Foundation we receive on an alomost daily basis instances of violence against young people from alternative subcultures and we as a foundation are trying to raise awareness of the intolerance they face. Mr Poole is obviously very brave and if more people stood up to bullies in the way that he did they may think twice in future.
And I would just like to say Im so sorry for what happened to your daughter. Mindless idiots. I have a daughter, only 11, but my god, if that happened to her. May she rest in peace and I only you can too soon. But keep up the good work, people need to be aware.

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The Seasider says...
12:33am Fri 7 Nov 08

Well done to Mr Pope, at least someone feels the urge to do right and overcome cowardice to take action. Its a shame that many prefer to hide behind excuses when they fail to act and confront these situations.

I believe that violent computer games and u-tube videos leads to children bluring the line between fantasy and reality. Such
motiveless violence is seen as entertainment in the minds of the mindless and when there is no strong parental guidance problems occur.

It seems to me that most teens who are drawn to 'goth' culture are creative, thoughtful, intelligent young people with much to contribute. Compare this to those drawn towards 'chav culture'- the Vicky Pollard types. They always seem to be the aggressors with little to offer.

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Jamaal says...
10:41am Fri 7 Nov 08

Yo, word up, wot's wiv da hate? I no kung foo, ya get me bruv?

As mah hero Tupac once said..


'Got shot 5 times but I'm still breathing...living proof there's a God if you need a reason.'

You knows it! Nuff respect to da Shirly crew! BRAAAARPPP!

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Mick the big rig trucker says...
2:21pm Fri 7 Nov 08

I think it's high time we rail roaded these young un out of our country. oh and the French too.

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Barbera says...
2:31pm Fri 7 Nov 08

It's so refershing to see such a public spirited young man in this day and age!

In my day it was fairly common to see youths helping an old lady accross the street, nowadays your more likely to see them smash her over he head with a brick, stamp on her face, rape her and then steal her pitance of a pension.

I blame the internet.

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manana says...
9:37pm Fri 7 Nov 08

Youre all very strange!!!!!

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