Arrests made following racially aggravated assaults in Thatcham

The first incident took place at about 9pm on Thursday, December 27, when a member of staff in a restaurant in the Broadway heard loud banging on the back door.
He went to the back door and was faced with a group of about three men and a woman.
One of the men punched the 33-year-old victim three times in the mouth.
The offenders then made off. The victim sustained a swollen lip.
A short time later, another member of staff heard banging on the back door.
This man, aged 50, was confronted by three men and two women.
One of the male offenders was holding a piece of wood, possibly a tree branch or a plank, and shouted racially abusive threats to the victim.
The group then came to the front of the restaurant and continued to act in a threatening manner.
At about 9.40pm on Saturday, December 29, the group of three men were seen kicking the back door of the restaurant.
When another member of staff opened the door, he narrowly avoided being hit by a stone which was thrown at him.
On the same day at around 11pm the first victim was walking home when he was attacked in the alleyway opposite the restaurant by three men.
He did not sustain any serious injury.
On Sunday, December 30 between 2am and 9am, offenders broke into the same restaurant and stole two large containers of vegetable oil which were later recovered in the street outside.
Designated investigator Kate Lond said: “This was a nasty and sustained attack on the staff at the restaurant.
“While this is a very unusual type of crime for Thatcham we are determined to bring the offenders to justice.
“We would urge anyone who saw anything, or customers who may have been in the restaurant at the time to please come forward.”
Anyone with any information should contact Katie Lond on the non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at

A 19-year-old Thatcham man and a 16-year-old Thatcham boy have been arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated assault.
The 19-year-old is on bail to appear at Newbury Police station on Friday, February 8 and the 16-year-old was bailed to appear at Newbury Police station on Wednesday, February 6.