A black Barrister from one of London’s leading chambers was held at gun point for 30 minutes by police officers in Essex.
The Barrister Leon Lynch 31 said he was terrified and humiliated by racist police attitudes, whilst armed detectives kept him handcuffed in the rain as he was celebrating valentine’s day with his fiancée.
The now married father of two who is a law-abiding citizen who works for one of London’s leading chambers, said officers pounced on him in 2014, after they wrongly believed he had a gun.
The police officers found a hammer, which was for his partner as a valentine’s gift for a plaque on a wall.
He further claims he has been stopped by the Metropolitan Police seven times over his colour, and this week hit out over George Floyd’s death.
Lynch said in court, “I am convinced this is about racism and the assumptions people make because of your colour. So many people in the UK see this as an American thing.
“But there are different grades of racism.
“The darkest is when you have someone like Derek Chauvin sticking his knee in your neck. This is a lighter, more subtle shade.”
Lynch’s wife Katie said, “People often assume that he is the defendant purely because he is a young black man.
“And this mistake is even made by counsel. He has had to defend clients who are charged with racial aggravated assault offences and does so with grace, humility and integrity.”
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