This story came too late for Christmas 2021, and I forgot about it Christmas 2022 ...
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| Danielle Hoynes (L), And The Santa Sleigh Volunteers |
so I have saved this sorry tale for 2023.
Drunken thugs (two men and a woman), in Sittingbourne, Kent, England, stalked the sleigh of Santa
and his helpers, as it wound through the town centre in December 2021.
They
then attacked Santa, when one of the drunken man leapt on the sleigh and in front of shocked
onlookers and their children, was threatening to punch Santa, after being told that Santa didn't have a present for him ... Danielle Hoynes the organiser intervened, and the drunk grabbed at her chest, taking her identity pass ... she was so angry that she 'stupidly' grabbed it back
"It wasn't very nice. Unfortunately, I didn't think at the time and grabbed it back. I was so angry. In hindsight, it was a stupid thing to do. He could have been armed with a knife. The incident really shook us all up."
They attacked not once but twice, as later on the man and woman stepped out from behind a white van and said: "Hello, Santa." ... Danielle said:
"That's when we decided to abandon that night's trip. It was sad. Children love waving to Santa as he goes on his rounds. We quite often have people in tears of joy as they see the reaction in children's faces. It is important an incident like that doesn't stop one of the town's best traditions. I just feel sorry for the people who did this. They must have very sad lives."
The cancellation threatened to ruin the festivities, as the sleigh ride was cancelled and may have been axed for 2022 as well. The police were called and inspected the CCTV images, looking for the attackers who were aged between 30 and 40. A police spokesman said "Our enquiries are ongoing." ... As to be expected no arrests were reported that I could find ....
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| Santa's Sleigh Team Back Up And Running |
.... But the good news was, that undeterred by the local thugs, Ms Hoynes said: "Santa was back on his sleigh on [the following] Wednesday, and has been waving to children every night." .... The local facebook page
showed that the Santa sleigh rides are still being run throughout each December, in 2022 and 2023 (weather permitting)
.... so the thugs must have either been deterred or arrested .... a small victory for decent behaviour, in the tide of lowering standards that seem to be the inevitable course we are on.
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