Police drop charge against man accused of leaking addresses of asylum seekers in Thetford

Police have dropped the case against a man accused of leaking the addresses of homes housing asylum seekers which were later targeted during several nights of disorder in Thetford.

Norfolk Police said proceedings against James Jobson, who works for a company providing housing for asylum seekers, were stopped after it "identified additional evidence which undermined the case".

The force said that "detectives continue to investigate how information was shared online which led to a number of addresses being targeted".

Mr Jobson, an employee of Serco, a multinational firm which provides outsourced public services, had been charged with misconduct in public office before the case was dropped.

Properties were targeted in the market town during three nights of anti-immigration unrest earlier this month.

Mr Jobson, 62, of Costessey, Norfolk, appeared before Ipswich Magistrates' Court on Monday.

He had been remanded in custody to appear before Norwich Crown Court in September before Norfolk Police said, in an update on Friday evening, that the case had been dropped.

A Norfolk Police spokesperson said that: "As with any police investigation, inquiries continued after charge.

"During further inquiries, officers identified additional evidence which undermined the case against Mr Jobson and the CPS was informed of these developments.

"It was concluded that the legal test for prosecution was no longer met and the case was discontinued."

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The spokesperson also said that Mr Jobson had been previously charged with "misconduct in public office relating to information obtained through his employment, that was published on Facebook".

He provided a "no comment interview" while being interviewed under caution before the case was dropped.

Three nights of unrest

Earlier this month, asylum seeker properties were targeted in the Norfolk market town of Thetford, and police officers were assaulted, in three nights of anti-immigration unrest.

Officers were "subjected to significant aggression", including being hit with a rock, bitten and spat at, according to Norfolk Police

Twenty-one arrests had been made in connection with the disorder, the force said last week.

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