- David and Frances Champion have been jailed for assaulting their daughter, 17, and her boyfriend Aflonce Ncube in a racist attack
- The Judge described their actions as ‘vile’ and ‘disgraceful’
- Mr Champion told Jane that she had brought ‘shame to the family’ while he beat her
- The Champions tried to find Mr Ncube as he hid in the restaurant where he worked while they screamed racial abuse
By Alex Ward
A mother and father who repeatedly punched their daughter while screaming ‘vile’ racist insults because they said she had ‘brought shame’ on their family by dating a black man have been jailed.
Assaulted by her parents: Jane Champion (right) was hit and punched in the face by her father and mother for having a relationship with Aflonce Ncube (left) because of his race. He was also subjected to racial abuse and physical assault from her parents
David and Frances Champion assaulted their then-17-year-old daughter Jane and her boyfriend Aflonce Ncube in two ‘disgraceful’ racist attacks. Miss Champion was repeatedly punched in the face, grabbed round the throat and had her hair pulled which left her with lumps and bruises.
Her boyfriend, Ncube was kicked in the legs while being subjected to a torrent of abuse over his skin colour. Mr Champion was jailed today for 12 months and his wife for nine months after two ‘vile’ racial attacks on the pair.
The first attack happened after Miss Champion’s parents were outraged to find her in a ‘state of undress’ with Ncube when they returned to their home in St Thomas, Swansea.
Champion, 50, shouted racist abuse at Ncube before grabbing and kicking him in the back of the leg and pushing him out the front door. He then grabbed Jane by her hair and started hitting her for ‘bringing shame’ to the family.
Judge Peter Heywood said: ‘We live in a liberal and enlightened society and these sorts of racist behaviour cannot be tolerated. The way you reacted was totally inappropriate.
‘I would be failing in my public duty if I was to do anything other than to impose a custodial sentence.’
Jailed for the ‘vile’ attack: Father David Champion (right) was sentenced to 12 months in jail and mother Frances (left) to nine months after punching and hitting their 17-year-old daughter and kicking her boyfriend
Prosecutor Nicola Powell said: ‘He told her she was destroying the family and pushed her out of the front door. Champion was shouting racist language to describe Mr Ncube.’
After the attack, Jane took refuge at her grandmother’s house but returned to her family home once the situation had ‘calmed down’.
Only a month later, the Champions confronted Jane in a pub asking if she was still seeing Mr Ncube. When she replied that she was, Mr Champion punched her in the face, Swansea Crown Court heard.
Miss Powell said: ‘Miss Champion said she felt huge pain to her left eye, but her father then grabbed her by her throat, and continued hitting her.’
The court heard that her mother, 47, yelled abuse at her teenage daughter and said: ‘You deserve it. It is all your fault.’ Mrs Champion then started hitting her daughter causing swelling on her face and lumps on her head.
The parents then went looking for Mr Ncube at a Swansea restaurant where he worked as a waiter. They began shouting in the restaurant while Mr Ncube hid until the couple were removed. Mrs Champion continued to bang on the window.
John Hipkin, defending David Champion, said he knew it was an ‘abhorrent’ assault. He said: ‘It’s not excusable in any way, shape or form but the circumstances in which he found his young daughter meant he reacted in a terrible way.
‘Lessons have been learned.’
Georgina Buckley, defending Frances Champion, admitted the attack was ‘disgraceful’. She said: ‘She accepts her actions were fuelled by alcohol and that she confronted her daughter in a wholly unacceptable and disgusting way.
‘She is remorseful and her daughter has sent her a text message before the court hearing wishing her well.’ Daily Mail
