Man told to expect jail over asylum hotel disorder

Twenty-eight people have been arrested, and 16 of them charged, following demonstrations outside the hotel

A man has been warned he will likely be jailed for causing violent disorder during a protest outside a hotel housing asylum seekers.

Hundreds of people have demonstrated outside The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, in recent months, protesting against it being used to house asylum seekers.

Dean Smith, 51, of Epping, pleaded guilty to causing violent disorder at Chelmsford Crown Court on 17 July.

He was remanded in custody for sentencing on 6 October.

Separately, other defendants denied committing offences on 17 July.

• Lee Gower, 43, from Epping, denied violent disorder and assaulting a police officer. He was remanded in custody until 22 September

• Shaun Thompson, 37, of Epping, who was alleged to have punched a police car, denied committing violent disorder. He was bailed until a further case management hearing on 22 September

• Jonathan Glover, 47, of Waltham Abbey, was not asked to enter a plea to a charge of violent disorder. He was bailed until 22 September, when an application to dismiss his case is due to be heard

• Keith Silk, 33, of Loughton, pleaded not guilty to violent disorder. He also denied criminal damage, having been accused of damaging a sign belonging to The Bell Hotel, and was bailed until a further case management hearing on 22 September

The recent protests followed the arrest of a resident at the hotel, subsequently charged with sexual assault, harassment and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity.

Hadush Kebatu, 41, from Ethiopia, has denied the offences and is in custody.

Twenty-eight people have since been arrested in relation to disorder at the hotel, and 16 of them have been charged.