Anti-asylum thug threats have left me terrified to leave house

Disabled campaigner tells of his hell at hands of far-right groups

- BY JOHN DINGWALL

ASYLUM hotel protesters have been accused of carrying out a campaign of intimidation and abuse against a disabled anti-racism campaigner.

Retired trade unionist Gary Clark, 57, turned up at protests to defend asylum seekers being housed at a hotel in Falkirk.

But Gary claims he is living in fear after anti-asylum protesters branded him a paedophile and accused him of threatening to knife a child.

Gary, who uses a mobility scooter, said: "I am now under serious threat of intimidation and accusations have been made to me and there have been serious threats made to me.

"My wife, who has lupus, is terrified. We are afraid to leave our own home."

He says those behind the intimidation have stalked his property at night and he's scared to leave home alone.

Gary has been advised by police to lock his doors and windows and call 999 if he finds himself in danger.

The harassment comes after a rumour on TikTok went viral. A woman claims he threatened to "stab a wee boy" - which he denies.

Gary says the accusations are typical of the lies and misinformation being spread by right-wing groups to encourage violence against him and others who have turned out to defend the rights of asylum seekers housed at the Cladhan Hotel in Falkirk.

The building once housed Afghan asylum seeker Sadeq Nikzad, jailed in June for raping a 15-year-old local girl in the town centre.

Protesters have vowed to hold weeks of angry demonstrations over the housing of asylum seekers in the heart of Scottish communities.