Ramadhani Matenga, 30, appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday to deny charges of common assault and criminal damage. The accusations stem from an alleged confrontation at the Danaher RSPCA shop in Braintree, Essex, which occurred in May.
Matenga, who is an asylum seeker living at the former Wethersfield RAF base, appeared in court with the assistance of a Swahili interpreter. The base, which houses 800 single male asylum seekers aged between 18 and 65, has been a point of contention for local residents who have previously expressed feeling unsafe. The site has accommodated asylum seekers since July 2023.
Migrants at the Wethersfield facility are provided with a shuttle bus service three times daily to access neighboring areas including Braintree, Colchester, and Chelmsford.
Campaigners have organized weekly protests calling for the closure of the former RAF base, particularly after the Home Office announced its intended use would be extended beyond 2027. In January, up to 1,000 protesters, including right-wing activist Tommy Robinson, demonstrated at the site, carrying banners with slogans such as 'Essex Voices Matter'.
Matenga’s trial is scheduled to begin next year at Colchester Magistrates’ Court. He was released on conditional bail, which includes restrictions on entering Braintree town center and contacting any prosecution witnesses.