A Watford FC diversity officer screamed ‘Go back to your country, you bloody Indians’ while throwing punches at railway staff at Southall station, a court has heard. Not really what you’d expect from a diversity officer, is it?

Ebonnie-Rose John-Jules, 23, was the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer for the football club’s Community Sports & Education Trust.

John-Jules was travelling with her friend on May 5 last year when they got into an argument with Transport for London (TfL) employee Sasha Da Cunha, who was assisted by her colleague Tom Kakeeto.

Kakeeto had just finished his shift at the Elizabeth Line station in west London, and was heading home on his bike.

Prosecutor Tom Heslop told City of London Magistrates’ Court:

‘He was at the gate when he heard a verbal altercation between the two defendants and his colleague.

‘He asked them to be civil and that attracted them towards him.

‘Without provocation John-Jules kicks his bike into him and he grabs hold of her, causing John-Jules to fall over.

‘She appears to then remove her earrings and launched into an attack on Mr Kakeeto, punching him to the face.

This all occurs within the concourse of the railway station as the two defendants were coming out of the station.

‘They are both attacking him, with the majority of the assault carried out by Caruana, but it did begin with John-Jules.

‘Comments were made during this by John-Jules towards Ms Da Cunha, including: “Go back to your country, you bloody Indians.”

‘She also says: “I will not leave the station until I see him bleeding.’

John-Jules had denied the charges for over a year, but on the day of her trial finally pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Kakeeto, plus a count of racially-aggravated threatening behaviour. The weirdest part? Neither Kakeeto or Da Cunha are Indian:

Funnily enough, University of East London graduate Ebonnie John-Jules has a previous conviction in 2022 for threatening behaviour.

She had begun her full-time role as Watford FC’s diversity officer just weeks before this incident took place. Previously, John-Jules had been employed as a Sports Events Administrator by Children with Cancer UK.

Watford FC Community Sports & Education Trust said in a statement:

‘Today we have learnt of the incredibly disappointing news of a former employee of the Watford FC Community Sports & Education Trust being convicted of a serious offence.

‘We have zero tolerance for any form of discrimination or violence and are proud, in partnership with Watford FC, to be one of only two clubs that currently hold the EFL Gold level of the EDI Code of Conduct and the Advanced Health Check Level of Premier League Equality, Diversity Inclusion Standard.

‘The former member of staff failed to disclose the arrest, investigation or proceedings against her as is expected and required in accordance with company policy. Had the Trust been made aware, the member of staff would have been suspended as per company pending the outcome of the police investigation. Once found guilty, the member of staff would have been instantly dismissed for gross misconduct.

‘The Community Trust will continue to review its current policy and practices around disclosure of police matters involving employees.

‘Finally and wholeheartedly we would like to pass on our sincere thoughts and best wishes to the victim and we hope the sentence imposed by the Court provides reassurance to them and the community as a whole that such behaviour is not and cannot be tolerated in our society.’

Wonder if anyone at Watford checked her references before hiring? Well, I guess they will be doing so for their next diversity officer hire. What does a diversity officer even do at a football club, anyway? Whatever it is, a person who yells “go back to your country, you bloody Indians” while punching up railway staff is probably not the ideal candidate for the job.

Best of luck to Ebonnie John-Jules on her future endeavours – she’s going to need it with two convictions on her record + failure to declare the second incident after it happened.

John-Jules, of Towers Road, Southall, was bailed to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on September 11 for a pre-sentence report. Her co-defendant and friend, Namoi Caruana, 23, of Hounslow, was sentenced to a twelve-month community order, including 70 hours community service work, up to five days of rehabilitation and a £50 fine for assault on both Kakeeto and Da Cunha.

For the BBC diversity chief who claimed Idris Elba ‘isn’t black enough’, click HERE. How out of order is that?