Police hunt for vile yob who defecated in garden of ex-cricket star

Police hunt for man who defecated in garden of cricket racism whistleblower Azeem Rafiq in ‘racially motivated attack’

  • The vile incident happened on October 5 in the garden of Rafiq’s Barnsley home 
  • Police have launched a probe and are treating the crime as ‘racially motivated’
  • Officers have now released an image of a suspect wanted for the alleged attack
  • Rafiq claims he was a victim of racism while at Yorkshire County Cricket Club 

Police have launched a hate crime investigation after a man defecated in the garden of retired cricketer Azeem Rafiq.

The ex-bowler was targeted at his home in Barnsley on October 5, an an attack detectives say is being treated as racially motivated.

Officers probing the vile incident have released an image of a man they want to speak to in connection with it.

A spokesman for South Yorkshire Police said: ‘Our Barnsley team is looking to identify the man pictured, in connection with a reported hate crime.

Police are hunting for a man who defecated in the garden of ex-Yorkshire bowler Azeem Rafiq, who is pictured in Karachi, Pakistan on December 21

Officers are looking to speak to this man following the incident in Gawber Road, Barnsley on October 5

‘At 6.18pm on October 5, it’s reported that a man defecated in the front garden of an address on Gawber Road, Barnsley.

‘It is believed that the incident, which is classed as a public order offence, is racially motivated.

‘We are looking to speak to this man as we believe he could help us progress our enquiries.’

Rafiq prompted a game-wide scandal after going public with claims he had been racially abused while playing for Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

The accusations led to a clear-out of coaches and board members at the club and a  report concluding that racism in cricket was ‘deep-seated’.

And earlier this month, Rafiq told MPs he had become the target of abuse in the wake of going public with his claims.

Giving evidence to a committee, said: ‘The downside and the difficult bits have been that my family has been the target of abuse, threats and attacks. 

‘Recently at my family house there was a bloke in broad daylight walked in and out of the garden on the phone before defecating. Bringing a loo roll. It looked very planned.’

He was hailed as being brave, dignified and articulate during the hearing in front of MPs. 

The scandal deepened earlier this month as Rafiq accused former Yorkshire and Hampshire all-rounder Alex Morris of pouring red wine down his throat at the age 15.

Gawber Road, Barnsley, the road where the alleged racially-motivated attack took place in October of this year 

Rafiq prompted a game-wide scandal after going public with claims he had been racially abused while playing for Yorkshire County Cricket Club

The shocking allegation, revealed exclusively by MailOnline, came from a series of parliamentary documents submitted to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee.  

In it, Rafiq claimed he was pinned down in the back of a car by a team-mate at Barnsley Cricket Club and forced him to drink.

It is understood that South Yorkshire Police spoke to Morris about the incident earlier this year after receiving a complaint, but no action was taken.  

‘On 13 November 2020 my lawyers sent a press release to the media that referred to an incident when I played for my local cricket club at the age of 15,’ Rafiq wrote.

‘I was pinned down by an older player, Alex Morris [‘Almo’], in the back of a car, where he forced red wine down my throat.

‘As a practising Muslim I did not drink, though I did later during part of my time as a professional to try to fit in with the culture.’

The claims come weeks after the retired sports star admitted he was looking to leave the UK with his family following the backlash he has had to endure after going public with his claims. 

Speaking to ITV News, the 31-year-old father-of-two said: ‘Twenty-one years ago, my dad picked us up and moved us because his business partner had been kidnapped and burnt. Twenty-one years on, deja vu and I’m having to pick my family up and leave for safety reasons. That breaks me.’

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