Four admit charges for taking part in protests

Daniel McGuire, Michael Williams and Lucas Ormond Skeaping all admitted disorder offences

Six people, including two 17-year-old boys, charged with causing violent disorder in connection with protests in Plymouth on Monday have appeared in the city's magistrates' court.

Daniel McGuire, 45, of Crescent Avenue, Plymouth; Lucas Ormond Skeaping, 29, of Warran Lane, Tavistock; Michael Williams, 51, of Blacklands Close, Sparkwell, pleaded guilty and are due to be sentenced at Plymouth Crown Court on Thursday.

Paul Braidwood, 44, of Ward Place, Plymouth, pleaded not guilty and is due to appear at Truro Crown Court on 2 September.

One teenager pleaded guilty to offences and is due to be sentenced on 5 September and the second 17-year-old pleaded not guilty.

Police spat at

Two groups of protesters clashed on Royal Parade in the city and outside the Guildhall on Monday evening in the latest in a series of incidents across the UK following the killing of three girls in Southport, Merseyside, on 29 July.

Plymouth Magistrates' Court heard McGuire, who appeared in the dock wearing a pink T-shirt with his right arm in a sling and carrying a crutch, had been told to step away from officers during the protests.

The court was told McGuire had been intoxicated at the time and spat at officers, and that he had been pushed back by officers.

It also heard the incident involving McGuire had been shown live on television.

Daniel McGuire (in the pink T-shirt, centre) was seen on television during disorder in Plymouth on Monday

Police officers saw Williams kicking another person during the protests, the court heard, and they later found a stone tucked into his jogging bottoms.

District Judge Joanna Matson remanded him into custody ahead of his sentencing.

She told him: "These matters are incredibly serious indeed.

"You have accepted your role in very serious disorder and violence in the city centre that took place on Monday night.

"That kind of behaviour will not be tolerated in this society."

The court heard Ormond Skeaping had pushed over a bike rider - one of the youth defendants - on Royal Parade.

The court was told footage found on a camera Ormond Skeaping had showed him throwing a full bottle of cola and a rock during the protests.

'Violent thuggery'

Judge Matson told them their actions contributed to a very significant disorder.

"This was violent thuggery which won’t be tolerated in our society," she said.

Mr Braidwood pleaded not guilty to his charge.

The court heard Mr Braidwood had been told to step back by police officers.

He is accused of swearing at them and squaring up to them.

The court was then told a police officer - who was chasing another person - was dragged to the ground and punched in the torso by a man believed to be Mr Braidwood.

Teenager 'remorseful'

Two 17-year-old boys, who cannot be named for legal reasons due to their age, also appeared in court.

One of the boys pleaded guilty over an incident where he was seen throwing an object which police believed to be a small rock towards protesters on Armada Way, the court heard.

Graham Kinchin, defending, told the court the teenager had not been in the area to attend the protests and was on his way home at the time.

Mr Kinchin said the defendant said the object thrown was a vape, not a rock.

He added the boy, who was tearful in the court room, had thrown it in retaliation after being hit by an object, and was remorseful for his actions.

The teenager is due to be sentenced on 5 September at Plymouth Youth Court and has been bailed under conditions including not attending any protests, plus obeying a curfew to remain at home between 20:00-06:00.

The other 17-year-old boy, also represented by Mr Kinchin, pleaded not guilty.

Mr Kinchin said he was also on his way home during the protests.

The court heard the teenager was riding a bicycle near the Theatre Royal and The Bank pub when he was pushed over.

Prosecuting, Gareth Warden, said the teenager punched and kicked the person - later revealed to be Ormond Skeaping - on the ground in what police described as a "needless assault".

Mr Kinchin said the teenager claimed he punched the floor after being pushed off his bike.

The boy was granted unconditional bail and is due back in court on 5 September.