A daughter who allegedly tried to storm a migrant hotel with a meat cleaver after finding an asylum seeker in her blind mother’s flat has pleaded guilty to affray.
Channay Augustus, 22, was part of a group of around 20 people who are said to have tried to barge into the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf, east London, on the evening of August 13.
At Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday, Ms Augustus, of Tower Hamlets, pleaded guilty to affray and having a meat cleaver in a public place outside the migrant hotel.
She pleaded not guilty to using the meat cleaver to threaten two hotel security guards and not guilty to assaulting an emergency worker.
The migrant who entered the flat, who is in his early 20s, was arrested on suspicion of assault last month, the Metropolitan Police said. He has since been bailed.
The incident unfolded when Ms Augustus discovered a man inside her mother’s flat, a five-minute walk away from the hotel.
After chasing the man away, she went to the hotel at around 6pm.
A previous hearing heard how Ms Augustus left the area and returned a short time later with a meat cleaver.
Channay Augustus, 22, was part of a group of around 20 people who are said to have tried to barge into the Britannia Hotel (pictured) in Canary Wharf, east London
The suspect, aged in his 20s, was living at the Britannia Hotel – he was arrested by police but has since been bailed
The Britannia Hotel is one of a number of hotels housing asylum seekers which has seen protests in recent weeks
A protester shouts at a police officer whilst taking part in a Stand Up to Racism rally outside the Britannia Hotel
She was later arrested at her home.
Her trial date was fixed for June 29 next year, and an application for bail will be heard later today.
Judge Sandy Canavan told Augustus: ‘If you don’t turn up to your trial it can go ahead without you, and there will be no one to put your story and the jury can hold it against you.’
Earlier prosecutor Hitesh Saini said: ‘The incident happened outside a hotel where asylum seekers are housed.
‘As a result, there were significant disturbance caused, and a number of people tried to barge into the hotel.’
Mr Saini added: ‘I have received statements from the security guards. The security guard said he was in the company of his colleague and they were trying to calm down the defendant.
‘The female in blue (the defendant), told the security guard: “I’m going to come back and stab you with a knife. She pulled a meat cleaver from her jacket and started banging.
‘The defendant then shouted: “F*cking asylum seekers.” She looked at the security guard again and told him: “I’m going to stab you.”
‘The defendant was captured on CCTV. She was arrested at her home address.’
Augustus admits one count of affray and having a bladed article, but denies threatening another with a blade or point and assaulting an emergency worker.
Her family members sat in the public gallery during the court hearing.
