Teen jailed for throwing missiles at police

A masked teenager who threw bricks, bottles and a beer barrel at police during Bristol's unrest has been jailed for two years.

Cassius Adamson, 19, of Lockleaze, joined a far-right protest high on drugs on 3 August. He was front of a group which gathered outside a hotel housing asylum seekers.

The labourer pleaded guilty to violent disorder when he appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday.

Judge James Patrick, who described Adamson's behaviour as "disgusting", added: "This offending had a significant community impact and brought shame on this city."

Hundreds of far-right protesters and a counter-protest group gathered for two demonstrations near Castle Park on 3 August.

The unrest caused families, particularly those with an ethnic background, to become fearful, stockpile food and board up their businesses, Judge Patrick added.

Adamson is the ninth person to be jailed for violent disorder after the unrest. Thirty-three people have been arrested and 18 charged.

The court heard, Adamson joined the demonstration after drinking two litres of spirits and taking MDMA, ketamine and cocaine earlier that day.

Giles Nelson, defending, said the teenager was "deeply remorseful" and had been "swept along" in the violence having had a difficult childhood with learning difficulties.

"With the fact he is such a loner, has attachment disorder and ADHD, when he was in that corridor of violence, he became a sheep and a follower."

Mr Nelson added: "He does not have any idealistic attitudes or any racist attitudes. He is easily influenced and easily used. There is no excuse for his behaviour."

The Avon and Somerset policing operation involved 300 officers and is estimated to have cost around £385,000

Judge Patrick told Adamson: "I have to deal with you for persistent lawlessness in the name of patriotism.

"You were involved in throwing missiles, cans and bottles, towards the police. You were gesturing, shouting and you were filming.

"You were aggressively trying to get to the hotel. The group, including you, threw missiles at the police, including a traffic cone, and also at others."

He explained four empty beer barrels were thrown at a police van, one of which was thrown by Adamson. He then also also used a brick and a glass bottle as a missile.

The judge said the "persistence" and "violence" of Adamson's behaviour" for nearly an hour towards public servants and "also while masked" was too serious to suspend the sentence.

He added: "The police incurred hundreds of thousands of pounds of costs."